Rolex Series

It's the one I want - Robert MacIntyre relishing another chance at home glory

Home hero Robert MacIntyre will be looking to exorcise the demons of 12 months ago when he goes out in the final group at the Genesis Scottish Open just two shots off the lead.

Last year, MacIntyre hit a stunning second into the last at The Renaissance Club to set up a closing birdie and take a one-shot lead after a 64, raising hopes of a first Scottish winner of the national open since Colin Montgomerie in 1999.

But Rory McIlroy had other ideas, birdieing the 17th and then hitting his own remarkable shot into the last to break home hearts.

MacIntyre will start the final round three shots closer to the lead than he did last season and while he admits the Genesis Scottish Open is the title he wants most of all outside the Majors, he knows he will have to keep his emotions in check if he is to overhaul Ludvig Åberg at the top of the leaderboard and win a first Rolex Series title.

"I've not been shy in saying it: the Scottish Open is the one I want," said MacIntyre. "It's not going to change tomorrow.

"I'm in that position. I've been doing good things. I've been playing well. Not just this week but for the previous kind of eight weeks, I feel like my game has been in good shape.

"Tomorrow is just another round of golf and I've just got to control me and if I do that well, then I'm going to be in with a chance.

"It's brilliant. To come home and have the home support, I said it from the start, I just want to be in with a chance going into Sunday and I've given myself that chance.

"Back home in Scotland, I said it from the start, it's one I want but I can only control me and I've controlled myself very well so far. I have 18 holes to control myself even more."

MacIntyre started day three in East Lothian four shots back but was soon into a share of the lead as he birdied the third and fourth and holed a 43-footer for eagle after driving the par-four fifth.

Further birdies came on the seventh, tenth and 11th and while he bogeyed the 12th, gains on the 15th and 16th saw him lead by two.

He dropped a shot on the last, however, and Swede Åberg birdied the 13th, 16th and 17th to move back ahead.

"I'm delighted," said MacIntyre. "The last is a difficult hole, whether it's flat calm, downwind, into the wind, it's difficult and when they put the pin up that top shelf it makes it even harder.

"Overall I played absolutely brilliantly. Tee-to-green was solid again, rolled the putter beautifully, just got to let it happen."

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