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It is just as well Robert MacIntyre cares little for publicity. He also does a fine line in self‑deprecation. When asked to compare his approach with Matt Fitzpatrick, his Ryder Cup teammate, MacIntyre smiles. “I’m less analytical,” the Scot says. “I’m not the brightest guy but I know how to play golf, just shape balls.”
There is no doubt about that. MacIntyre’s tilt at the Players Championship provided the latest evidence that he is one of the UK’s most unheralded, elite sportsmen. The 29-year-old has long since evolved from the shinty-loving, unassuming boy from Oban to a golfer who feels perfectly at home on the biggest stages. Next up, perhaps the grandest of all: the Masters.
“This is what I want to do now,” MacIntyre says. “Yes, winning the Players would have been brilliant. I won the Scottish Open, which was my main goal in life apart from a major. Now, for me, it is about winning majors. With the way I am playing, the consistency and the level I know I can play at … I don’t see why not. It actually gives me goosebumps here thinking that I know I have a chance when I pitch up at any of them.” Second at the US Open last year is proof of that.
It was a shock to most observers that MacIntyre survived for only 36 holes of Augusta National in 2025. Since then, he has not missed a cut. Given his own lofty standards, last year in Georgia stung. “That was a sore one,” MacIntyre says.
“I don’t like making excuses but there were things going on that sort of dragged us down. Billy Horschel struggled as well. We were in the same group as poor Nick Dunlap, who was struggling off the tee, which was a shame. I am looking forward to going back.”
Because MacIntyre is too kind to say it, Dunlap shot 90 in the first round. Horschel completed the three‑ball exit at halfway.
MacIntyre’s Players quest was alive and kicking until the 16th hole of round four. A second shot pushed into rough, his third flew across the putting surface and into water. “I had a chance to win the Players. I am just gutted with the way it finished with that lie. I didn’t even think I could get it out of there, it was sitting horrifically in the rough. I thought: ‘I’ll just dump this on the front edge of the green.’ It came out decently, I thought it was good and would go to 45ft.”
He did exceptionally well to compose himself by the tee of the iconic but treacherous 17th and had a chance for a birdie from 30ft. “I was fairly calm, I had good numbers for the shot with my 56‑degree wedge,” MacIntyre says.
“It is horrible if you don’t. I was wanting to go straight at the flag. I was at the point of no return; go at it and see where you end up. My caddie got me to be sensible there. I still gave myself a chance at the 17th and hit a great tee shot on 18, my wedge shot there just took a massive bounce. But overall, a great week.”
His prominence was extraordinary in itself. MacIntyre was a dozen shots off the lead after round two. It is more than two decades since a golfer overcame such a deficit on the PGA Tour. Nobody has won the Players when more than seven adrift at halfway. “I was miles back but I have been driving the ball unbelievably well and putted the best I ever have,” he says. “For the last eight months, a year, my putting has been superb. So I knew I had a chance. Thankfully my iron play, wedge play and chipping pitched up those last two rounds.”
Between now and his Augusta return, MacIntyre has domestic matters on his mind. Or in his own words, “changing nappies”. His partner, Shannon, gave birth to their son in late January. “I feel bad that I am out here competing when Shannon is at home,” he says. “Everyone in the family is fully understanding. Shannon has been brilliant as have both sets of parents. We both have unbelievable support back home, which makes life a little bit easier from my side but there is nothing like being home with family.”
There is, however, no chance of him mellowing inside the ropes any time soon. “I am still volatile. It is part of my DNA, that fire. I think when I finish on the course, it makes it easier. I FaceTime them and the wee man is screaming or drinking milk; he doesn’t have a clue what I have just done. But the fire in the belly is not going to change.”
