Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre and Spain's Adri Arnaus will make their Open Championship debuts at Royal Portrush later this month, continuing their meteoric rise following European Challenge Tour graduation last year.
MacIntyre reached the latest milestone in his impressive young career when he secured his spot at Royal Portrush, courtesy of being one of the top five players, not already exempt, within the top 20 in the Race to Dubai. Meanwhile, Arnaus' tied second place finish at Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucia Masters hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation earned his Major spot as the Valderrama event was the eighth event in The Open Qualifying Series.
The Scot's achievement is representative of the meteoric rise the 22-year-old has made this season, aided by second-place finishes at the Betfred British Masters and Made in Denmark presented by FREJA and a handful of further top 20 placings on the European Tour. Long billed as one of the best emerging talents in Europe, it is a journey that started like many of the game’s top stars, including World Number One Brooks Koepka, on the European Challenge Tour.
MacIntyre, who only started focusing on golf five years ago after switching from his childhood sport, shinty, emerged as one of the stars of the Challenge Tour in the 2018 season, claiming one of the 15 coveted European Tour cards up for grabs with a composed performance at the season finale in Ras Al Khaimah.
It was a make-or-break event, which highlighted the impressive nerve of the young star, who came into the tournament requiring a strong finish and walked away with a tied sixth place and his European Tour card safely secured.
It was a similar mentality to the self-possession he demonstrated at this year’s Betfred British Masters en route to a final round of 66, six under par, which included a sensational approach shot on the 18th hole to force his way into contention.
MacIntyre did not record a win on the Challenge Tour last year but did play his way into a play-off. In fact, he saw action in two overtime match-ups, and despite falling to birdies by hometown hero Kim Koivu at the Vieurmäki Finnish Challenge and Victor Perez at the Foshan Open, came away as one of the players to watch for the 2019 season.
With a great track record on links courses, do not be surprised if the Oban native records a strong finish at Royal Portrush. In addition to his strong performance at Hillside Golf Club, many of MacIntyre’s most notable amateur achievements came at seaside venues. These include Scottish Amateur and Scottish Boys Open Stroke-Play Championship titles, a runner-up finish at the Amateur Championship at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club and his famed 6&4 defeat of American rising star Cameron Champ at the 2017 Walker Cup.
MacIntyre will be in good company when the Open Championship makes its returns to Northern Ireland for the first time in almost 70 years. Thomas Bjørn, Tommy Fleetwood and Henrik Stenson are just a few of several notable players in the field who also began their careers on the Challenge Tour.
The most recent former Challenge Tour player to secure his place at Royal Portrush is Spain's Arnaus. The big hitting Spaniard was one over for his final round at the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucia Masters hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation after ten holes but made four birdies in five from the 12th in a 69 to secure his Open debut and second Major appearance.
"All week the place in The Open is what I came here for," Arnaus said. "It’s just an incredible feeling to come out here on home soil, play well, and get one of those spots.
"It’s going to be packed and I’m really looking forward to playing links golf in front of those crowds and get another great experience under my belt."
Arnaus' second place at Valderrama was his second runner-up finish of the season following his near-miss at the Magical Kenya Open presented by Absa and the 24-year-old now sits 34th on the Race to Dubai.
After a hit-and-miss start to his maiden Challenge Tour season in 2018, Arnaus announced his arrival on the circuit as a tied fourth finish at the 56˚ Open de Portugal @ Morgado Golf Resort sparked a run of four consecutive top tens followed immediately by a quartet of top 20 finishes.
The Catalan secured three more top tens as the season edged towards its conclusion - including another second place at the Cordon Golf Open - before emphatically earning his European Tour card by winning the season-ending Ras Al Khaimah Challenge Tour Grand Final, clinching second spot on the Rankings behind Joachim B. Hansen.
Further former and current Challenge Tour players could still qualify for the final Major of the year, with final qualifying set to take place across Britain on Tuesday July 2. Challenge Tour members who do qualify for The Open will have the chance to earn Order of Merit points at Royal Portrush, with ten per cent of points earned in Northern Ireland counting towards the Rankings.
