Top-ranked Scot Robert MacIntyre will make his Portugal Masters debut this week promising a far more ‘aggressive’ approach on the course to host the European Tour’s only 59.
It’s just over three years since Englishman Ollie Fisher became the first and still only Tour player to finally become a a member of the Tour’s ’59 Club’.
MacIntyre got his first look at a rain-softened host Victoria course and reckons 69 would be good score as he returns to competition after a fortnight’s break.
He said: “Shooting 59 is an incredible score, 69 is a decent score as well. It’s a golf course that you get lots of chances if you’re driving it well but if you’re not driving it well, you’re going to get punished.”
MacIntye also tees-up on the sun-splashed Algarve seeking a long overdue second win of his pro career, a win that also would improve his current No. 61 world ranking.
And the Oban lefty spoke of his goal to get more aggressive with his play and rather than playing the defensive.
Scotland’s Bob MacIntyre to make his Portugal Masters debut this week
He said: “I want to win every week I turn up.
“I’ve got goals that I’ve set and there’s little things that I’m trying to work on within my team… to be more aggressive from certain numbers.
“I think that’s come into my golf because of some of the golf tournaments I’ve been playing in in the last year where you’ve had to almost be more defensive than offensive. I’m trying to flip the switch now and become more offensive than defensive.
“There’s little things in my game that I’m still trying to work on and this week’s a big week for that.
“I’ve had a couple of weeks off and done some practice and changed a few things – I’m really looking forward to it. I’m in good spirits, the game feels good, it’s just putting it all together.
“There’s a lot of expectation on me from everywhere, myself especially, I’m expecting a lot from my game.
“”I feel like my game is there, I just need to not worry about consequences and don’t think about what could happen and think what can happen.
“That’s one of the main things for me just now, is trying to be more positive. Everyone that knows me knows that I’m not the most positive human being but we’re getting there, we’re trying to change that.”
Fellow Scot David Drysdale has shaken off an injury concern to take his place in this week’s field.
Drysdale withdrew after nine holes on day two at last fortnight’s Mallorca Open citing a ‘back twinge’ and along with his caddying wife, Vicky headed home to Scotland.
The injury could not have come at a worst time for the golfer affectionately known as ‘Double-D’ with his withdrawal seeing Dyrsdale drop four places on the Race to Dubai money-list.
It saw him drop to 122nd and just one place inside the leading 123 at the close of next week’s AVIV Dubai Championship for those retaining automatic membership for the 2022 European Tour season.
He said: “The 10 days I’ve had at home resting has worked well and the back feels okay.
“It was more of a precautionary measure pulling-out of Majorca, so I’m now looking forward to this week. It’s an important week but then no different in importance to every week out here.
“I’ve always enjoyed playing down here in Portugal with the golf course probably a little softer than normal and the weather’s also a little cooler as we’re down here a little later in the year than normal”.
Joining MacIntyre and Drysdale is fellow Scots Connor Syme, Stephen Gallacher, Robert MacIntyre, David Law, Richie Ramsay, Scott Jamieson, Marc Warren and the two Scottish winners from this year in Grant Forrest and Calum Hill.
And Gallacher has savoured good news ahead of the event with confirmation his defence of the Hero Indian Open will go ahead early next year after the cancellation of the event this year.
MEANTIME
The Tartan duo of Ewen Ferguson and Craig Howie are now just four rounds from wrapping a full 2022 European Tour cards.
Ferguson is lying sixth and Howie 16th on the Race to Mallorca money-list heading into this week’s final event Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final.
The leading 20 at the end of the week will secure their main Tour cards.
