Top-ranked Scot Bob MacIntyre brilliantly bounced back from the shock of an opening hole double-bogey and upstage one of his more illustrious playing partners on day one of the WGC – HSBC Champions in China.
MacIntyre, 23 and competing in the super-rich £stg 8m for a first occasion, send his opening Shanghai drive down the 10th into bushes and then on closer inspection called his ball ‘unplayable’.
The Oban lefty reluctantly swallowed a one-shot penalty but then failed to find the the green with his third before a chip and two putts for his double- bogey ‘6’ but then regrouped in picking-up four birdies to sign for a two-under par in glorious conditions on the Sheshan International course.
If left MacIntyre sharing 26th place in the limited 78-player field and six shots adrift of Chinese No. 1 Haotong Li posting an eight-under par 64.
Bob MacIntyre drives off the first and while taking a double bogey ‘6’ the young Scot bounces back in signing for a two-under par 70 (Photo – Bounce Sports Mgmt
MacIntyre said: “It was a rough way to start the day, but I could only get better after the first hole …well, at least that’s what I was saying to myself.
“It was good to bounce back and play the rest of my round in four-under par so I’m looking forward to building on that round tomorrow as there was great signs out there, aside from that drive off the 10th.”
The lone Scot in the field teed-up alongside the American duo of World No. 32 Kevin Kisner, and only one adrift winner earlier this year of a WGC title, and World No. 33 Billy Horschel who is a five-time PGA Tour winner including capturing the 2014 Tour Championship.
MacIntyre said: “Billy and Kevin were great to play with today as they made me feel comfortable and we had a good laugh on the way round.”
World No. 2 Rory McIlroy was also back-pedalling early on with three outward nine birdies but also three bogeys before also settling down to birdie five of his closing seven holes to be sharing third place at five-under par.
He said: “I think it’s momentum. Sometimes you feel it a little more than other times and definitely got to momentum on that back nine today, and tried to sort of ride that momentum to the very end.
“It would have been nice to pick up one more, had a good chance for birdie, but after the start today, to shoot five under, I’m not complaining.
“Looking at the leader-board and looking at the scores that have been shot, it definitely was scorable. There was no wind, so it was a day to take advantage of the conditions. It looks like the conditions are going to stay that way for the next few days, but it’s nice, the last few tournaments I’ve played, I’ve had a bad opening round and then been trying to play catch up.
“At least now, I’m right in the thick of things from the start, which is a better place to be.”
