Why Bob MacIntyre isn't in contention for PGA Tour Rookie of the Year

Bob MacIntyre isn’t in the running for the PGA Tour’s Arnold Palmer Award on the simple basis that he wasn’t eligible for the Rookie of the Year accolade.

Eyebrows have been raised about MacIntyre not being on a shortlist of five contenders for the US circuit’s coveted prize after winning both the RBC Canadian Open and the Genesis Scottish Open.

Instead, the players in the running are American trio Nick Dunlap, Jake Knapp and Michael Thorbjornsen, as well as Frenchman Matthieu Pavon and Argentinean Alejandro Tosti.

Bob MacIntyre shows off the trophy after his memorable win in the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club. Picture: Andrew Redington/Getty Images.

Like all of them, MacIntyre was playing his first full season on the circuit, but the 28-year-old wasn’t deemed as a rookie due to having played more than seven events in a previous season.

That actually happened twice, with the left-hander making a total of 13 starts in the 2021/22 season as he tried to get in the Ryder Cup team for Whistling Straits then eight the following campaign.

He then only played three times on the PGA Tour last season as he concentrated on the DP World Tour, achieving his two-pronged mission of making Europe’s Ryder Cup in Rome and being among the ten players to secure cards for a proper crack at the PGA Tour.

Reflecting on his year in the US, the 2019 DP World Tour Rookie of the Year acknowledged in a post on social media that it had been a struggle for him at times but, ultimately, proved very rewarding indeed.

“It’s not all been glamorous, far from it – but that made the two wins all the more special,” he said, posting images of him showing off the trophies in both Canada and Scotland. “I’ve learnt so much about myself the last eight months and feel a far improved player. Now for some big events on the DP World Tour. Thanks for your support.”

MacIntyre, who sits fifth in the Race to Dubai behind five-time Harry Vardon Trophy winner Rory McIlroy, starts the next phase of his season in just over a week’s time in the Amgen Irish Open at Royal County Down.

He’ll then head to Wentworth for the BMW PGA Championship before teaming up with his dad Dougie in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at Carnoustie, Kingsbarns and St Andrews.

It’s unlikely that he’ll then play anywhere else before the two DP World Tour Play-Offs - the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and DP World Tour Championship - in November.

• Eye-opening figures for Bob MacIntyre's brilliant first full season on PGA Tour