Robert MacIntyre has jetted into Texas for back-to-back tournaments ready to ‘release the hounds’ and a much-needed boost in form ahead of next month’s Masters.
MacIntyre has qualified for Wednesday’s starting WGC – Dell Technologies Match-Play Championship in the Texas capital of Austin while he’s also been afforded an invitation to tee-up in the following week’s Valero Texas Open in San Antonio.
Top Scot Robert MacIntyre needing to get the bite back in his game teeing-up in the Lone Star State. (Photol – Bounce Sport)
The world’s leading 64 on the World Rankings qualify for a place into this week’s only match-play format event on either the PGA or DP World Tour, and with MacIntyre somewhat fortunate to secure his tee time after five other players ahead of him on the rankings elected not to contest the $12m event.
Those skipping the tournament include both the World No. 6 and 7 in Aussie Cameron Smith, winner of last week’s Players Championship and Rory McIlroy. Also sitting out the tournament being hosted again on the Austin Country Club course is reigning Masters champion, Hideki Matsuyama, at No. 11 in the world, along with Harris English (No 22) and embattled Phil Mickelson (45) who continues on a self-enforced break from the game.
MacIntyre is presently ranked No. 67 in the world but would not have been presented with the chance of pocketing the $1.8m first prize cheque if not for the withdrawals, and with the Austin entries going down to Austrian Sepp Straka, and the World No. 69 who captured the recent Honda Classic.
A year ago, MacIntyre was ranked 44th in the world and after his share of ninth along the shores of the Colorado River, and assuring the young Scot a maiden Masters appearance. MacIntyre’s Texas baptism was marked in winning his group stage, including humbling then World No. 1 Dustin Johnson, but then being knocked out of the last 16 by Frenchman Victor Perez.
Though in his ensuring 24 appearances since last year’s Match-Play, MacIntyre has managed only four top-10s with a best being a share of fourth in last year’s then-named European Tour season-ending event in Dubai.
He grabbed a tie for eighth last July at The Open in Sandwich, and this after securing a return next month to the Masters with his gallant T12th result in April on debut at Augusta. He also heads to Texas not having competed in five weeks since his T15th result in the Tiger Woods hosted Genesis Invitational, a decent result that stopped a slow slide down the Rankings.
What’s hurt the Oban lefty ranking-wise has been seven missed cuts in those two dozen events, including four weekends off in succession and they were three in a row, and both sides of ‘The Pond’, first in a vain attempt to earn his 2021/22 PGA Tour card, and then returnin to Europe for the BMP PGA at Wentworth and trying to qualify for the Ryder Cup team. He then missed a fourth paycheque on the trot in sitting out the final round of the Dunhill Links.
MacIntyre’s present No. 67 ranking is his lowest in two years since his moving from 91st in the world to 62nd with his maiden and still only Tour victory in Cyprus.
However his management company is excited of MacIntyre’s prospects in the lead-up to the Masters tweeting:
“BIG THREE WEEKS. Some were wondering but here it is @robert1lefty will play @DellMatchPlay and follow up with another @PGATOUR start @valerotxopen before returning to Augusta National for his second appearance @TheMasters .. Release the hounds”.
Yes, more bite is exactly what MacIntyre is lacking and hopefully, he can find that in the Lone Star State before joining fellow Scot and past Augusta champion, Sandy Lyle on the hallowed Georgia golf course.
