MacIntyre Again Banging Loudly On European Tour Maiden Victory Door.

… Belek, Turkey 

Top-ranked Scot Bob MacIntyre once again is staring at a maiden Tour success heading into the final round of the Turkish Airlines Open.

MacIntyre finished eagle, birdie, par and birdie in a round of 67 to be sharing second place with four others, including 2018 Masters champ, Patrick Reed on 15-under par on the Montgomerie Maxx course in Belek.

Scotland’s Bob MacIntyre has every resason to be smiling heading into the final round of the Turkish Airlines Open (Photo – @TourMiss)

Austrian Matthias Schwab posted a 66 to extend his lead to three shots at 18-under par.

MacIntyre and Reed will have each other for company for a third of four days after being paired for the first two rounds, and something that could help the young Scot break through for a first Tour in in his rookie season.

Also, there is the highest-ever Tour first prize of $US2m.

MacIntyre said:  “I stayed incredibly patient out there today as I was struggling and especially after the bogey on 14 and then at the next, I hit my driver to just three-feet at the short 15th for an eagle ‘2’, so my patience worked well out there.”

MacIntyre again singled out his coach, Davy Burns again for praise and his guidance as the young Scot seeks an overdue first victory toast.

He said:  “Davy has been huge. I changed to him about three years ago now and he has changed a fair bit of my swing. It is still my swing, but he has changed it to hopefully withstand pressure.

“The thing is he’s not just a coach. He’s a friend and he is a psychologist for me. He’s been absolutely superb and that’s the reason I am up here on the leader-board as many weeks as I have been.

“And looking back to May and the first time I was in contention, I was worried, I was shaking with the putter at the British Masters but then I’ve shot under par every time I’ve been in with a shout.

“This course, you can’t expect to shoot level-par and expect to win a tournament. I’ll just stay aggressive, keep the driver in the hands, keep attacking pins while be sensible what pins I will attack.

“Every pin that’s there for the taking I’ll go straight at it. That’s just the win I play golf.”

Scott Jamieson signed for a 68 to be just two back of MacIntyre and with the assurance the Glaswegian win, lose or draw in Turkey, has  a seat on the Turkish Airlines charter flight later tonight (Sunday – Turkey time) bound for next week’s Nedbank Challenge in South Africa.

“I was probably better today than yesterday, even though I didn’t score quite as well. But it was a good day,” said Jamieson who played in the company of 2018 Masters winner Patrick Reed.

“Coming into this week, I wasn’t into next week but it looks as though a few guys might have withdrawn and it looks as though I will be.   Then I need to try and get as close to that 50-mark as I can this week then try and improve on that next week.

“I don’t know what is going on with the entry lost for next week – and they don’t seem to like to tell us, either.

“It was also great to play with Patrick Reed. I enjoyed it and it was a good day.”

And Richie Ramsay produced the lowest score on day three of a 64 to back at 11-under par.

Starting from the 10th hole, Ramsay capped his round with six birdies in succession from his eighth to 14th holes.



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