Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre says he is fulfilling a lifetime dream by playing in The Open Championship at St Andrews.
Golf’s oldest Major is celebrating its 150th anniversary this week at The Home of Golf, with MacIntyre aiming to build on an already impressive record in the event.
MacIntyre has registered top-ten finishes in both his appearances at The Open since his debut at Royal Portrush in 2019 and, despite admitting he got goosebumps on his arrival at St Andrews earlier in the week, is fully focused on contending once again for the Claret Jug.
“I've always said, if I was ever to play just one Open Championship, it would have been here,” he said at his pre-tournament media conference on Wednesday.
“It's a dream come true for me, but I've got to try to compete and win a golf tournament.
“It's not going to change whether it was here or Portrush my first year, it's still the same golf tournament. I'm still here to compete. But, no, obviously, this is a special, special place.”
It's a dream come true for me, but I've got to try to compete and win a golf tournament.
The 25-year-old, who hails from Oban on the Scottish west coast, was brought up playing links golf and is confident in his abilities if he can play to his potential.
“Of course, I’m probably going to be a wee bit more anxious, a wee bit more nervous at the start but once I get into it and after I play the first couple of holes, I’m playing golf,” said MacIntyre, who is one of three Scots in the field alongside 1999 Champion Paul Lawrie and Major debutant David Law.
“If I play well, I don’t see why I can’t do something in this golf tournament. I know how to play links golf.”
Special 😍 @TheOpen pic.twitter.com/6nq0IMNBkH
— Robert MacIntyre (@robert1lefty) July 11, 2022
MacIntyre admits he has not produced his best golf on previous visits to St Andrews, ranging from during his amateur days to past appearances in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship but is expecting a new examination this week.
“It's not the same golf course that we played as amateurs, and even the Dunhills…” he added.
“It's a completely different test of golf. And it's just going to play firmer. I hope it will just keep baking out because, really, if it's not blowing 20, 25 mile an hour, it's its only defence.”
MacIntyre, who won his first DP World Tour title at the Cyprus Showdown in November 2020, has had a frustrating year with one top-10 finish and he has missed the cut in three of his last four events, including last week’s Genesis Scottish Open.
However, the Tour’s Rookie of the Year winner in 2019 is confident his form will soon return.
“I’ve been on a pretty steep rise since I turned pro,” he said. “If this is my slump in my career, then I’ve done all right.
“When it all clicks in and I start getting momentum going, I’ll be back to myself.
“I’ve got more shots in the bag this year than I did last year and there’s still a lot of the season to go.
“Golf’s a funny game, and it’s not been kind to me just now, but it will be.”
