Robert MacIntyre has himself a new driver and looking to the steal the limelight five-years on as a pro at the famed Riviera Country Club for this week’s Tiger Woods Foundation hosted Genesis Invitational in suburban Santa Monica.
MacIntyre had turned down invitations to compete in the past two PGA Tour events and instead tee-up in back-to-back DP World Tour events at Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) in the UAE.
It turned into a disappointing fortnight for Scotland’s top-ranked posting a last day 73 to finish T13th in the first of the RAK double-header, while he cracked the face of his driver on day two of the second event, and struggled using a ‘back-up’ driver. MacIntyre bogeyed two of his closing three holes on Sunday, including sending his drive down the last into the waters of the Arabian Sea to eventually finish tied ninth.
This week’s whopping $12m (Stg 8.85m) event, and up $2.7m (Stg 2m) on last year’s purse, boasts the world’s top-10 and 35 of those ranked inside the top-50, and with MacIntyre looking to become a sixth first-time winner on the Tour’s 2021/22 wraparound season.
Robert MacIntyre gets his first look at the famed Riviera CC five years on from playing the 2017 US Amateur, and playing a 9-hole practice round with fellow Scots Martin Laird and Russell Knox
Tournament host Tiger Woods is in attendance but not competing, and yesterday (WED) presented the Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption tee-time to ultra-talented fellow black golfer Aaron Beverly, who is making his PGA Tour debut plus has the honour of teeing-off first. Next week (Feb 23rd) also marks one-year since Woods’ near-fatal car crash and 40 miles to the south.
For MacIntyre this week marks his 14th PGA Tour counting event since the 2020 U.S. Open and a first since a T65th last August at the ‘regular’ season-ending Wyndham Championship in North Carolina. MacIntyre chose then to remain Stateside to contest two events on the secondary Korn Ferry Tour, and in the weeks before the Ryder Cup but in what was a failed attempt to secure his 2021/22 PGA Tour card.
And after the obnocious, out-of-control and downright dangerous beer can and bottle hurling scenes of a week ago in Phoenix, this week will have a more respected atmosphere on the eucalyptus tree lined fairways of the ultra-exclusive Riviera Country Club course.
MacIntyre also is no stranger to the course that boasted members such as Hollywood legends of the silver screen as Humphrey Bogart, Gregory Peck, Walt Disney, Hal Roach, Spencer Tracy, Douglas Fairbanks, Katharine Hepburn, Mary Pickford, Vic Damone, Peter Falk, Jack Ging and Dean Martin,. Indeed, there is a sycamore tree guarding the left side of the 12th green known as ‘Bogart’s Tree’, and where Bogart used to hang out watching tournaments.
MacIntyre said: “I played the 2017 U.S. Amateur here at Riviera and it’s a great golf course and one that I have always been looking forward to coming back to, so it’s great being back.
“It’s one of those golf courses where you’d enjoy playing every day. It’s just so good. There’s the fabulous first tee shot from beside the clubhouse to the fairway below and just a great layout of holes.
“The clubhouse is also stunning and I remember when I was here for the US Am’ just admiring all the photographs of these famous movie stars, and dressed-up in golf gear. So, I was really happy when the invitation arrived”.
Five years ago MacIntyre, who was a few days shy of turning 21, joined fellow Scot Connor Syme that year and with the Oban lefty making it into the final 32 whereas Fifer Syme lost out to American Doug Chim in the last 16, and with Chin going through to the final only to lose to compatriot Doc Redman.
Among those who competed in that 2017 US Amateur, and are now teeing-up this week as pros, include Redman and Chim, double major-winning Collin Morikawa, reigning Scottish Open winner Min Woo Lee, Cameron Champ, Maverick McNealy, Matt Wolff, Will Zalatoris, Joaquin Niemann and two players who starred in last week’s Phoenix Open – Winner Scottie Scheffler, third-placed Sahith Theegala.
Another who contested the 2017 US Amateur and teeing-up is World No. 4 Viktor Hovland and partnering Rory McIlroy and Masters champ Hideki Matsuyama.
MacIntyre will play the opening two rounds in the company of the 2021 Renaissance Club-winning Lee and big-hitting South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout.
Also joining MacIntyre are fellow Scots Russell Knox and Martin Laird.
