Bob MacIntyre ready to get teeth into Masters debut......and caramel wafers!

Forget Georgia grub like peach cobbler or pimento cheese sandwiches. Bob MacIntyre is set to fuel himself for a dream Masters debut next week with one of his favourite Scottish snacks.

Bob MacIntyre pictured during the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club in Texas. Picture: Steve Dykes/Getty Images.

“Ha ha,” replied the Oban man, laughing, to being asked how he is surviving after six weeks in the US without Tunnock’s tea cakes, having made no secret of his love for one of Scotland’s best-known biscuits.

“We found a place with a secret stash of caramel wafers in one of the shops here and we’ve got a couple in the fridge, so we’re doing just fine.”

Referring to an international section in a local supermarket, he added: “It’s got Irn-Bru as well.” But what about Tennent’s or Brewdog. “No, we are off the drink at the moment,” he replied with a hearty chuckle.

MacIntyre, who received his invitation for the season’s opening major on Monday, arrived in Augusta on Thursday along with his coach David Burns, caddie Mikey Thomson and manager Iain Stoddart.

While it’s a brand-new experience for 24-year-old MacIntyre, Stoddart has been through this before when another member of the Bounce Sport stable, Stephen Gallacher, made his debut in 2014 and handled it well to record a top-40 finish.

As part of a drip-feeding process before making that keenly-anticipated first journey up Magnolia Lane, MacIntyre posted a video on social media on Friday of them driving past the main gate on Washington Road.

“No, not yet,” he replied to being asked if he’d visited the course yet. “That will be either Saturday or Sunday and, if not then, definitely Monday. That’s the reason we came up here from Florida early. I’m still going to be a bit in awe of the place, a wee bit wowed by it even on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

“It’s not just going to become normal. It’s Augusta National. It’s somewhere that is so private that you normally can’t get on it.

“It’s special, so I am still going to feel a bit of shock all week. But the more normal it becomes, the better I will be prepared for it.”

Stoddart, who will be on driving duties as MacIntyre films that exciting journey up Magnolia Lane, is hoping he can play a part in the world No 44 feeling as relaxed as possible when he steps on to the first tee on Thursday in an event also involving 1988 winner Sandy Lyle and Martin Laird.

“Part of the strategy was the importance of coming in early,” he said. “We did it with Stevie, too, when he played. It doesn’t matter who you are, whether playing, spectating, the first time you walk into the place, it’s weird. It’s the one place you go that exceeds your expectations. You can be overwhelmed by it all.”

MacIntyre tied for sixth on his Open debut at Royal Portrush in 2019 before making the cut at the first attempt in both the US PGA and US Open last year. He’s hoping to get his preparation spot on again.

“I’ll not be on site early,” he said. “I’m not on the course practising all this time. I’ll do a bit away from there. It was just good to get in the area, and get the feeling of ‘wow, I’m here’ out of the way."

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