MacIntyre Chuffed To Find His Way Into WM Phoenix Open Field.

3 months ago by Comments Off on MacIntyre Chuffed To Find His Way Into WM Phoenix Open Field.

Top-ranked Scot Bob MacIntyre wasted little time heading off to Arizon after grabbing the last place into Thursday’s starting WM Phoenix Open in Arizona.

The Oban lefty was fifth reserve last Friday for $US 8.8m (£6.97m) event but a number or withdrawals, including out-of-form World No. 4 Viktor Hovland and the latest being American Kevin Streelman, who withdrew late on Tuesday (US time) has opened the door for MacIntyre.

It meant the now Orlando-based MacIntyre boarding a flight early Wednesday morning to Phoenix while it was not till post lunch he got a first look at the host TPC Scottsdale course soon after.

MacIntyre said: “I was watching the entry list closely since they released the field on Friday.  It’s been a long, anxious wait but happy now to be teeing-up in Phoenix.

“When I secured my PGA Tour card, it was one of the golf tournaments I was really looking forward to playing.  I’ve always enjoyed watching and always wanted to play, so I’m really excited now to be in the field.

“Fortunately, I won’t be teeing-up blind as I should be able to squeeze a practice round before teeing-up early tomorrow (Thursday)”.

MacIntyre will tee-up as the World No. 67 having dropped a further three places after missing following sitting out last week’s storm-affected AT & T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

The Phoenix Open hosts around 700,000 spectators annually over the four days while it pumps roughly $US 40m into the Arizona economy.  It is also by far the rauchest event on the PGA Tour and helped by the famed par-3 16th full stadium hole.

Fellow Scot Martin Laird will have the honour of teeing-up first (Thursday 2.20pm UK time), as the now 41-year-old looks to end an over three-year winless drought and capture a fifth PGA Tour title.

MacIntyre will not far behind, out 11 minutes later (2.31pm local US time) behind Laird off the 10th tee and in the second group of the day.

Meantime the Scottish duo of Ewen Ferguson and Scott Jamieson will seek to draw on fond memories teeing-up in this week’s DP World Tour’s CB Qatar Masters in Doha.

Ferguson became the fourth Scottish-born winner of the event in 2022, and in a maiden victory for the Scot who won five months later at Galgorm Castle in Northern Ireland.

Jamieson tees-up having secured full 2024 playing rights after his rousing third place finish some four months ago in the final ‘regular’ event of the 2022/23 wraparound season.

Jamieson, 40, arrived in Doha last October lying 119th on the Race to Dubai money-list and three places outside the leading 116 who were to retain full Tour member status.

The Florida-based Scot did more than that in sharing third place and just two places outside of the eventual Doha play-off, and ended the season 87th on the money list.

Jamieson said: “It’s a completely different feeling this week compared to my last visit here in October. No pressure whatsoever.

“Looking back, it’s a funny game as I teed-up feeling I had nothing to lose and then after posting that first round 65, I find myself tied for the lead.

“I didn’t play well on Friday but then I holed some ridiculous putts on the Saturday and we’re talking about me being right in there with a chance of winning the tournament.

“So, great to be back so soon after that result and naturally, hoping to go a couple of places better this week”.

Jamieson and Ferguson are among six Scots in the Qatar field including 17-year-old amateur Dominic McGlinchey, who is attached to the Renaissance Club but lives in Doha.

McGlinchey received one three amateur invitations into this week’s event.

McGlinchey also is son of former PGA professional Gary McGlinchey, who left Deer Park Golf Club in 1989 and has since worked in the Middle East, Asia and Australia.

He first worked at the Doha Golf Club for a decade from 1996 and returned in 2015, taking-up the role general manger a year later before finishing-up at the host Doha Golf Club last August.



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