Top Scot Bob MacIntyre is returning to the States in the morning (Sunday Jan’ 26th) with all roads over the next few months leading to Augusta National, Georgia.
MacIntyre is initally bound for famed Pebble Beach on the Californian west coast and in what will be a second first-time golf course in just three events on this year’s PGA Tour schedule.
After teeing-up for a maiden occasion earlier this month at The Sentry Invitational on the Hawaiian island of Maui, MacIntyre will also tee-up for a first time showing in the AT & T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
The $US 20m event is the second ‘Signature’ event on the PGA Tour schedule and thanks to his double winning 2024 season MacIntyre is exempt into all eight limited field events boasting a combined purse of $US 160m.
All roads now leading to Augusta, GA ..
As @robert1lefty @GlencruittenG @ArnoldClark returns to PGAT & a maiden @attproam ahead also of teeing-up in a first @TheMasters in four years
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✅ @TOURMISS @SundayMailSport (Bernie ) pic.twitter.com/wW4I9uhsPV
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) January 25, 2025
MacIntyre’s been home in his beloved Oban for less than a week since last week’s T17th finish at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, catching-up with his family and also attending a friend’s wedding.
The World No. 16 will cross The Atlantic chilling out in Business Class knowing he’s exempt into all four majors this year and for a first time since 2021, so he can plan a schedule around those and not have to go chasing majors qualifying tournaments.
He said: “I have the cushion of my two wins that means I can choose where I want to play, so I’m looking forward to a first visit to Pebble Beach and there’s also Torrey Pines early next month plus Hilton Head.
“Also, being in all the majors is great as they’re the events I am trying to win. They’re not going to be shocks to the system, as in the players I will be playing against. I’m now playing against them week-in, week-out on the PGA Tour, so you get more comfortable.
“Last year on the PGA Tour I was thinking more of just getting finished but now that I am in the big groups and you have the crowds following you. I feel like at the start of a round there is an energy and I can feed off that”.
However, when asked who were those players close to him and who he would seek out to play practice rounds the Scot surprised with his answer.
He said: “No-one (smiling). It’s just mostly Mike and I. I just love doing my practice work on my own. I get far better work done by myself. I see guys out there practicing in fourballs and with coaches everywhere and there’s no focus in that.
“I just struggle in that environment and that’s why you just see Mike and I out there by ourselves. It doesn’t matter if it takes us two-and-a-half hours or four-and-a-half hours as we are doing our job and that’s getting ready for the tournament.
“And the work we’ve been doing, and the consistency I am starting to see has been massive”.
And as a two-time PGA Tour champion MacIntyre is a ‘name’ player but it’s meant more media requests, more spectator interaction and a little less time on working on his game.
However, MacIntyre admits while it’s not changed him as a person, he’s had to become more selfish when it comes to his golf.
He said: “I’ve not changed as a person but in a professional way I have become more selfish.
“I watch the best players in the world and I think that once you get to a certain level in this game, everyone’s trying to get a piece of your time and pulling at you from different directions.
“So, Mike (caddy) and myself, and the people around me have had to become more selfish with our time. Some people don’t like it but time is valuable. If you are getting pulled pillar to post you have no time to practice.
“It’s just a part of the job we’re in”.
Play well Bob and look forward to seeing you at The Masters.
