Robert MacIntyre played well enough and carried himself even better in his Open Championship debut – enough to get asked back next year, no questions asked.
The 22-year-old from Oban finished with a real flourish, a 20 foot birdie putt on the last, to complete a 68 – the best performance once the weather had closed in at Portrush – and a five-under aggregate of 279.
That final birdie – “the best moment of the week, the kind of thing that gets the hairs standing up on the back of your neck” – proved very handy indeed, as the awful weather brought the field back to the Scot, and he eventually finished inside the top ten – which brings an automatic exemption into next year’s Open at Royal St George’s.
It’s also the best Scottish finish in an Open since Colin Montgomerie was second to Tiger Woods at St Andrews in 2005. Not bad at all for the left-handed tour rookie, who also gets the little matter of around £250,000.
“It was brilliant,” he said. “You’ll never know how many Open appearances you’re going to get. So for me to do this in my first one, it’s been a dream come true.
“Today was the first time we’ve actually played the golf course the way it was meant to be played. We stuck to our guns and did everything right. The putting still wasn’t great but I got a great one at the end.
“We said coming down the last that a birdie might get that top-10 finish. So I said to (caddie) Greg (Milne): I’ve missed chances on 15, 16 and 17, putts that have just shaved the edge of the hole – one of them has to go in today.
“You dream of that sort of putt when you’re a kid on the putting green, on the 18th in the final round of the Open, but its’ always to win, isn’t it? I’ll take this one just now, it puts me in a great position for the future.”
It wasn’t all joy during the week in Portrush for MacIntyre. He had the difficulty on Friday when he called out playing partner Kyle Stanley for not shouting a warning when the American hit his ball into spectators.
The unrepentant American bit back on Saturday, but it seemed the young Scot had the vast majority of support from his peers and players of the stature of Ernie Els for his stance.
“‘Obviously it doesn’t matter what you say or do, you’re going to get negative feedback from someone,” he said. “But I’m proud of the way I handled the whole week, from start to finish, from my preparation all the way through to that putt on the last.
“I’m quite a chilled out guy so this kind of week, I could enjoy it. Last week at the Scottish Open was huge preparation for this. Even though I missed the cut, what an experience that was – and it set me up perfectly for this.”
But the growing attention and admiration coming his way will not change Robert, as he takes three weeks off when his family and friends will bring him right down to earth.
“I’m sure they’re all going to give me a ripping when I get back home, but there’s no problem with that. It’s time to enjoy this and see everyone.”
And he’ll get his fair share of banter when he’s at shinty training with the club his Dad coaches, Oban Celtic, on Tuesday.
“I go every week I’m home, it’s half six to eight and I don’t know what it is, but it just gives me peace of mind,” he said. “I’m away from absolutely everything out there, just playing with my pals.
“It gives me everything, starting with fitness. I’ve lost a bit of weight since I started doing the training again earlier in the season, just after (the European Tour event in) Morocco.
“So far so good, I’ll just keep doing it.”
MacIntyre was also pleased to hear fellow Scot and stablemate Calum Hill had won on the Challenge Tour in Austria a week after a strong performance in the Scottish Open.
“I saw Calum last week and he was saying `just take a look at you guys, I want to be here with you’.
“Fair play to him today, he’s cruised it today. All the young Scottish guys are stepping up and performing, everyone is pushing each other.”
