Bob MacIntyre has 'plenty of fight and energy' for weekend in RBC Heritage

Bob MacIntyre overcame tiredness to maintain his sparkling form in the US with a bogey-free effort in the second round of the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head then insisted: “There’s still plenty of fight and energy in me for the weekend.”

Bob MacIntyre of Scotland plays a shot on the 15th hole during the second round of the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Picture: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images.

Making his debut in the event at Harbour Town Golf Links in South Carolina, the 24-year-old from Oban added a four-under-par 67 to his opening 70 to sit joint-19th, dispelling fears that he could be running on empty after tying for 12th as first-timer in The Masters last weekend.

MacIntyre, who is playing in his sixth event on the PGA Tour in an eight-week stint in the US, opened his birdie account in the second circuit by rolling in a 29-footer at the 14th before also converting putts of 17 feet and 13 feet respectively for further gains at the 16th and 17th.

In a polished performance, he then got up and down from 27 yards at par-5 second - his 11th - before giving himself little stress in reeling off seven straight pars to finish.

“I’m really pleased with my round as it’s one of my first bogey-free rounds in a long time and the round was as steady as it looks on the scorecard,” said the world No 44.

“I wasn’t driving it at my best, but I managed to keep the ball in play. I know the shot shapes I am playing with now and I am putting beautifully, as I have been the last three weeks.”

This effort contained just 27 putts, with a change made to his putter by his club manufacturer, TaylorMade, paying dividends for him at the moment.

"I actually extended the putter as I have been struggling with the pace of the greens over here in the US as they are a lot faster and the ball was coming off too hot from the putter face,” said MacIntyre.

“So, the TaylorMade boys took some of the weight off the head and the only way they could do that was by extending it, and they’re done a great job as the ball is now coming off at a pace I can control. That’s half the battle for me."

MacIntyre finished his second round before noon in the US and is aiming to use a welcome gap before heading out in Saturday’s circuit to be fresh and ready to go again.

"I’ve now got probably 24 hours to relax and I’m quite good at saving energy and not doing much,” he said. “I am starting to get a bit tired but, in saying that, there’s still plenty of fight and energy in me for the weekend.”

Stewart Cink, the 2009 Open champion, carded a second successive 63 to spreadeagle the field as he moved to 16-under-par, giving him a five-shot lead over Canadian Corey Conners (64).

Argentina’s Emiliano Grilllo (64) sits third on 10-under, with overnight leader Cameron Smith (71) and US PGA champion Collin Morikawa (68) in a group on nine-under.

Open champion Shane Lowry matched the effort from Conners to sit handily-placed on seven-under alongside Mexican Abraham Ancer (66).

MacIntyre’s compatriot, Russell Knox, missed the cut on one-over after a 72.

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