Bob MacIntyre feels game is 'finally back where it needs to be'

Bob MacIntyre feels his game is "finally back to where it needs to be" as he gets set for something new on the European Tour in the second-leg of the circuit's double-header in Cyprus.

Bob Macintyre putts on the 15th hole during the final round of the Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Open at Aphrodite Hills Resort. Picture: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

The 24-year-old from Oban was delighted to find himself in the mix in the final round of last week's Cyprus Open before finishing in a tie for third behind Englishman Calum Shinkwin at Aphrodite Hills, near Paphos.

It was MacIntyre's best performance since recording a top-10 finish in the Omege Dubai Desert Classic in January in his first start after taking some time off to let a wrist injury heal.

"I'm really starting to believe that you need to have a bit of luck go your way to win a golf tournament," said the left-hander as he reflected on coming up just short after carding rounds of 68-67-66-65 for an 18-under total.

"On 14 in the final round, I've pitched it an inch from the hole, hits the flag and goes to 35 feet. If it misses the flag it's probably going in the hole, if I'm honest.

"Disappointed with that, but I put in a great shift there, bogey-free last round six under.

"I thought I was going to have a chance but Callum has played some unbelievable golf on the back nine, so hats off.

"My game is finally back to where it needs to be. It's been a tough time for everyone but my golf has really struggled.

"I went home and did a few things the last few weeks and I am finally seeing the rewards."

On the back of being crowned as last season's European Tour Rookie of the Year, MacIntyre was 64th in the world rankings at the start of this year.

He was in danger of slipping out of the world's top 100 before his return to form, which saw him climb nine spots to 91st, just six spots below top Scot Martin Laird.

"I'm enjoying my golf again," he added. "I'm hitting my numbers with my irons, finally, and I'm in a good place mentally.

"The only part I have to do is just play golf and enjoy myself. Mikey [Thompson, his caddie] is doing a great job in keeping me going.

"The equipment change I made for last week has been huge. We were hitting some irons that we thought were good but were nowhere near it. The new irons last week have been night and day.”

MacIntyre is now looking to take up where he left off on Sunday when the same venue stages the Cyprus Showdown

The event features a 105-man field for the first two rounds of stroke-play as normal, with the top 32 players and ties progress to Saturday’s shootout with their scores reset.

The same thing happens for the final round involving the top 16 players as they battle it out over the concluding 18 holes for the €200,000 first prize.

"I really like the golf course, it suits my eye," said MacIntyre. "I'm just going to prepare the same way, take Monday off and chill out, do my stats, speak to a few folk, just prepare like a normal golf tournament."

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