Robert MacIntyre’s magical maiden Masters finish has seen him not only boost hopes of Ryder Cup selection but also move closer to playing full-time on the PGA Tour.
MacIntyre’s birdie at the last helped secure a share of 12th and thus ensure an automatic invitation into the 2022 Masters.
The effort helped MacIntyre become the third best Scot on Masters debut after fellow Scots Willie MacFarlane and MacDonald Smith finished a respective sixth and tied seventh in the 1934 inaugural Masters.
Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre now a step closer to becoming a member of the PGA Tour. (Photo – Getty)
And while MacIntyre’s Augusta effort has seen the Oban lefty bizarrely remain at 12th on the Race to Dubai money list, he’s moved from 12th to now 10th on the European Ryder Cup ‘World’ points table.
It has seen MacIntyre overtake the Masters winning duo of Danny Willett and Sergio Garcia to be just one place behind the leading five players on the ‘World’ table who will qualify automatically for Padraig Harrington’s side.
As well, MacIntyre has now earned a whopping $662,800 in PGA Tour earnings in just five events on the 2020/2021 wrap around schedule that edges him closer to earning PGA Tour ‘Affiliate’ membership ahead of full Tour status at the end of the season in August.
MacIntye’s earnings, including $264,500 for his Masters result, would currently place him 108th on the PGA Tour money-list standings if he were a full member.
With this week’s RBC Heritage Classic in South Carolina along with the three Majors and two WGC titles to be played in 2021, the young Scot will surely be competing full-time next year in the US.
As well, the Scot has bumped reigning Open Champion Shane Lowry out of 45th place on the World Rankings and up one place to 44th in the world.
One of those left gob-smacked with MacIntyre is super coach, Butch who could not stop singing the Scot’s praise during Sunday night’s SKY Sports coverage.
Harmon said: “We’re going to hear more from this kid. He’s special
“He’s very impressive, very impressive.”
MacIntyre had played the last round in the company of Tony Finau, who shared 10th place at three-under par, and with the Scot pleased now to have now played with the American on a few occasions.
MacIntyre said: “Tony’s great. I’ve played with Tony a couple of times now, such a nice guy, and the two of us got on great.
“We chatted all the way around. But no, it’s unbelievable, really to believe that I would be competing in the Masters Tournament, playing with the best guys on the planet.”
And that boyhood dream in standing over a putt at his beloved Glencruitten club to win the Masters has now become a reality.
So how does it feel in reality?
He said: “It’s even better. You love a dream and you hope for it, but when you’re here now, it’s different.
“The buzz you get when I’ve holed that putt and then I’ve gone in and seen the scores and where I finished, and it’s just — it’s everything you want as a kid, and we’ve done it.
“When I was a young kid I wanted to, but until I’m here doing it, you don’t really believe it, and we’re here now, and it’s the best feeling I can have.”
MacIntyre tweeted video of his exit on Sunday night from Augusta National, and just as he had done six days earlier in tweeting a first-ever drive down Magnolia Lane.
His message to his 32.5K followers was: “See you next year @TheMasters”.
MacIntyre will tee-up for a first time in this week’s $7.1m RBC Heritage Classic and a sixth event in a two-month Stateside schedule before returning home to Oban.
However, before heading on the two-and-a-half-hour drive south-east to Hilton Head in South Carolina, was some celebrations with his parents, coach and manager
He said: “I’m going to have a few beers with my family and I’m just going to enjoy it.
“I’ve got my mom and dad here and the whole team, so I’m sure my two sisters and friends at home will be going mental right now.
“It’s part of what we do. We’re a big family. We’re a close-knit family, and just delighted to be here and competing.”
And Martin Laird has picked-up nine spots to be World No. 91 after his share of 38th place finish.
Laird had intended to join both MacIntyre and Russell Knox this week at Hilton Head but chose instead to return home to his family in Denver.
