Robert MacIntyre started the week dreaming of becoming Scotland’s first Open champion this Century but after another awkward round on Saturday he has a fight on his hands just to be his country’s leading finisher.
The hype around MacIntyre went into overdrive last weekend when he lifted the Scottish Open. Hopes abounded he could repeat the Major triumph of Paul Lawrie in 1999 with locals sculpting Good Luck Rob messages on the sandy beaches next to the Royal Troon course.
Homegrown players are always guaranteed enthusiastic galleries but by the time the heavens opened mid-afternoon MacIntryre was reflecting the cruelty of his sport.
His mood following a 72 that took him six-over for the Championship matched the heavy rain whereas his fresh-faced countryman Calum Scott, a 20-year-old from Nairn, was beaming with the joys of life.
His 70 put him three shots clear in the race for the prestigious Silver Medal awarded to the leading amateur at The Open.
Robert MacIntyre’s hopes of winning The Open are in tatters after another awkward round
His mood following a 72 that took him six-over for the Championship matched the heavy rain
‘Last week you were the champion and this week you’re just bottom of the pack,’ grimaced McIntyre on his sharp decline in fortunes.
‘It’s links golf. It’s made it difficult to be competing but that’s part of it. The front nine are not gimmes and then the wind switches and makes it even harder.
‘After four holes on Friday, I thought I’d be sitting on my couch in Oban for the weekend. It was a big effort to make the cut and coming out today I didn’t have everything going.
‘It’s a difficult golf course for me. Thankfully we’ve got Portrush next year.’
MacIntyre was part of Europe’s winning Ryder Cup team last year and at the age of 27 expectations are high.
Calum Scott’s 70 put him three shots clear in the race for the prestigious Silver Medal
He made two birdies on the front nine on Saturday but dropped three coming back and the left-hander was forced to play one shot at the 18th with his ‘wrong’ hand as the ball perched next to a bunker.
‘I thought I had a bit of luck to miss the bunker and then I got there and there was no shot. I couldn’t even stand in the bunker and hit it,’ he explained.
‘I just thought, why not hit it right-handed so I kind of aimed at the TV tower and put a swing on it.
‘I’ve not taken a full swipe at the ball (right-handed) in my life but as long as I hit the club face it was going to be alright.’
MacIntyre appreciated the continued goodwill of his Tartan Army in difficult times but the real sense of excitement was reserved for Scott, who has defied expectations this week fresh from his studies at Texas Tech in America – also the finishing school for Ludvig Aberg.
MacIntyre appreciated the goodwill of his Tartan Army but all eyes are on compatriot Scott
‘There are a lot of guys here I’ve not seen for ages. They are all either friends and family from Nairn or I have met them through playing golf tournaments. The support I’ve had has been unbelievable and I’ve had tons of messages,’ he said.
‘I didn’t know what to expect coming to The Open. Because of my surname, my locker is right next to Adam Scott and Scottie Scheffler. At first I was like “I don’t know if I should be here”.
‘I managed to settle on Monday, got being star-struck out the way. I came here for a job to play as good as I can so I focused.’
Rain lashed down as Scott marched down the final fairway and he acknowledged: ‘Shooting one under in those conditions in the third round is pretty good.
‘Making the cut was my goal so once I’d achieved that, it was like a weight being lifted off my shoulders.
Fresh-faced Scott, a 20-year-old from Nairn, beamed with the joys of life at Royal Troon
‘I can enjoy myself now and sort of do my thing. If that’s good enough to win the Silver Medal or get up that leaderboard, then I’m happy.’
Justin Rose is one of the past recipients for best amateur and Scott is in a good position to emulate him, leading his closest challenger Jacob Olesen of Denmark.
‘I think, if I shoot under par, I should be all right,’ was Scott’s prediction for the final round.
The third Scot still in the field, Ewen Ferguson, goes into Sunday’s final round on four over. He capitalised on the best of the conditions to shoot a 70 consisting of one birdie and 17 pars.
