A clearly refreshed Robert MacIntyre returned to the PGA Tour and teamed with Belgium’s Thomas Detry to superbly snare the lead early on day one of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
MacIntyre and Detry combined to grab the early clubhouse lead with a 10-under-par 62 on the host TPC Louisiana course.
The duo posted a second hole eagle and then eight birdies, including four in succession from the 11th hole in the $US 8.9m event.
MacIntyre, and showing plenty of spring in his step, has been back home in his beloved Oban since missing the halfway cut on March 31st in the Houston Open, a fortnight prior The Masters.
SCOT & BELGIUM DOVETAIL WELL @Zurich_Classic
With good friends @robert1lefty @ArnoldClark @bouncespmgt @tomdetry @CallawayGolf team superbly to post combined 10-under 6⃣2⃣ opening day @TPCLouisianaAGR
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He said: “Yeah, it was good. Good start.
“Again, Thomas was chipping in all the pro-am, and his first chip today, he’s chipped it in for eagle, and I’ve chipped in the next for birdie, and from there it gave us a nice cushion just to press on.
“It gave us a bit of freedom, and we’re like, well, we’re 3-under par, 4-under after the 4th, and it was a nice cushion to ease up and play with a bit more freedom”.
It is Detry’s second appearance in the only regular PGA Tour season team event and with the current World No. 67th ranked delighted to be playing alongside MacIntyre.
Detry said: “It just more comfortable playing alongside someone who you know so well.
“It’s my second year out here, for Bob it’s his first year, so it’s nice to have some friendships from back home.
“I live in the UK, he lives in the UK, as well, so we have a nice little connection. Obviously, we played so many years on the DP World Tour together.
“I think we always got along pretty well”.
MacIntyre and Detry’s clubhouse lead was short-lived as the American duo of Ryan Brehm and Mark Hubbard seized the lead with a combined 11-under 61.
A second Scot in Russell Knox and his Valspar Championship winning partner Peter Malnati were out in the afternoon half of the draw.
