At just 24-years of age Scotland’s top-ranked Robert MacIntyre is virtually on top of the world.
He’s won on the European Tour and in his last event he superbly finished T12th in his first Masters to secure an automatic invitation to return next year to the famed Augusta National club in Georgia.
The young Scot is currently ranked No. 45 in the rankings while he’s earned just over Euro 4.3m in his combined 54 European Tour events since the start of his 2019 winning European Tour ‘Rookie of the Year’ season.
For MacIntyre the bigger rewards in golf await but when he’s back home in his beloved Oban that doesn’t matter as there’s one person in charge – his mother, Carol.
MacIntyre was asked ahead of today’s (WED) starting BetFred British Masters at the famed Belfry how proud he felt returning home following the high of his Masters efforts but knowing that when he stepped back into the family home he was being told what to do by his mother.
Carol MacIntyre along with son Robert and his dad Dougie in 2019 when MacIntyre was crowned European Tour ‘Rookie of the Year’ (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss)
MacIntyre (smiling) said: “It was just brilliant getting home as my mum brings me back down to earth with a bang every time I go home and that will never change while my dad is the same.
“I get treated the same way as my sisters when at home as there’s no special treatment.
“It’s the same with my pals as I go and play a few holes this afternoon, I will get on the phone and speak to my pals and they will treat me as though I was sitting home at Oban. The chat will be the same.
“I try to live the life of a 24-year-old guy. I don’t try and live the life of someone who is trying to achieve great things in the game of golf as I am trying to be normal. As hard as it can be at times, there are obviously things I have to sacrifice but I still enjoy life with my pals.
“I also still like to pick-up a Shinty stick now and then. Just being myself and that’s how it will always be”.
And the quietly-spoken and very publicity shy Scot will have it no other way.
He said: “Going back home as I do after tournaments is brilliant and I just love it. I struggle sometimes when there is a lot of attention here and there because I am a quiet person so I just try to let the golf do the talking.
“When I am not on a golf course I just try and stay hidden, stay quiet and while it can be difficult at times but it’s the job I have got myself into and it’s the lifestyle that I have dreamed of as a kid as I now get to travel the world, play some of the best golf courses on the planet.
“Life’s good and I don’t know what else I could say.”
MacIntyre finds himself the highest ranked in the Danny Willet hosted event, and in a tournament where he went so close to victory two years ago at Hillside before sharing second place.
He’ll play the first two days alongside double Major winning Martin Kaymer who’s looking to secure a first victory since tearing the field apart to capture the 2014 US Open and with both heading to next week’s PGA Championship, and an event Kaymer won in 2010 when MacIntyre was just 13-years old
MacIntyre also heads a field of 10 Scots in an event where six Scottish golfers have won in the past.
Among the Scottish contingent is Glaswegian Marc Warren and returning to competition after a back injury forced him out of defending the Austrian Open.
