Bob MacIntyre left ‘battered and bruised’ after US Open debut

left ‘disappointed’ by his overall display at the US Open

Bob MacIntyre felt his putting was ‘superb’ but his iron play was ‘terrible’ at Winged Foot. Picture: Getty.

Bob MacIntyre admitted he’d been left “battered and bruised” at the end of his US Open debut after suffering a sore weekend at Winged Foot due to “horrific” iron play.

In the main respect, it had been mission accomplished by the 24-year-old from Oban as he made the cut for the third time in three starts in majors following opening rounds of 76-79 at the Mamaroneck venue.

However, closing scores of 76 and 79 for a 21-over-par 301 total left MacIntyre feeling “disappointed” with his overall display after setting out in the season’s second major with high hopes.

“Obviously it’s satisfying,” said last year’s European Tour Rookie of the Year of having extended his run of cuts in the game’s showpiece events, “but this week I felt like I should have been 
competing.

“It was my style golf course, but it was really tough. Normally I’m one of the better iron players out here, and this week was just horrific. My iron play was terrible. I’ve got a lot to work on.”

MacIntyre started his final circuit by rolling in an eight-footer for a birdie at the first, but it was a bit of a struggle thereafter.

“Today was the same as the rest of the week, driving it all right and just hitting my irons horrifically,” he reported after coming home in 41.

Asked about the positives from the week, he added: “Making the cut in my first US Open while I also found something in my putting. I haven’t been putting great all season. I changed a few things in the last couple weeks and starting to see big improvement.

“Scoring didn’t really show it, but I’d say my putting was superb this week.”

MacIntyre’s next appearance will be in the upcoming Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club in East Lothian, having decided to skip this week’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Galgorm Castle.

“Good luck to the boys travelling from here this week that have been battered and bruised out on that golf course to play next week,” he said.

“It’s a mental battle out here this week, and it just crushes you.

“The other reason (for skipping the Irish Open) is I’ve got to go work on some things. This week I’ve pinpointed a few areas where I really need to improve, and I’ll go away with my coach, Davy Burns, and work on that.

“My goal is win it (the Scottish Open).Obviously to win I’ve got to do a lot of things right, and this week I felt like I’ve done a lot of things right, but a lot of things were poor. I have a lot to work on over the next week.”

MacIntyre ended up raising $35,000 for the McNeese State University emergency fund through making ten birdies in total over the four rounds, having generously decided to help his alma mater in Louisiana after it had been badly hit by Hurricane Laura.

“I should have made more for them, but it’s good and I’ve done my little bit so I’ve got to be happy with myself, but I should have made more for them,” he said.

“I’m trying to do something to help others while I play my golf and my sponsors, Aberdeen Standard Invetments, Orion Group and Arnold Clark have been a big part in me being able to raise that kind of money.

“It wouldn’t be possible without them for me to be out here playing, and for them to support me when I choose to do this kind of thing shows the backing I’ve got from all my sponsors, which is huge.”

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