Exclusive .… “I do know he comes from a little town in Scotland called Oban and for sure, absolutely, he’s clearly got the game to win a major“.
The words of double winning Major Champion Xander Schauffele when asked his thoughts if Scotland’s top-ranked Bob MacIntyre can join the American in winning at the game’s highest level.
Schauffele and MacIntyre may have been rivals in the past two Ryder Cup showdowns but they’ve also become good friends, and that was so obvious over the final round of the recent Players Championship when they were out together in the fifth last group at PGA Tour HQ.
MacIntyre had been in front of his Olympic Gold Medal winning partner up until three holes to play when in a two shot turnaround Schauffele birdied the 16th and 18th holes to overhaul the Scot to secure third place at 11-under
MacIntyre disappointingly bogeyed 16 and parred the last two to finish a shot back of Schauffele at 10-under in fourth for his equal best result of this season.
EXCLUSIVE …
Double Major winning @XSchauffele @XanderLegion declares a golfer ‘from a little town in called Oban’ @robert1lefty can a major
Read: https://t.co/CLU6yww9aE@robert1lefty @aberdeenTrusts @ArnoldClark @TaymouthC @oriongroup @RBC @bouncespmgt… pic.twitter.com/OjSmT5fCAf
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) March 26, 2026
And while it did get tense for both nearing the end, there had been clearly plenty of friendly talk among them beforehand.
GolfByTourMiss caught-up with the American to exclusively ask how much he enjoyed MacIntyre’s company and also if the proud Scot will soon join him as a major champion.
Schauffele said: “It was nice playing with Bob, as I’ve got to know him quite a bit.
“He’s a great player and we saw at last year’s US Open and then heading into the BMW and also finishing runner-up there, and then winning the Dunhill in his beloved Scotland.
“So, he had a really good stretch of golf there.
“He’s just had a kid, as well. So, we had a few things we could talk about that final round of The Players.
“So, can Bob win a major? For sure he can. Absolutely. He’s got the game to win at this sport’s highest level. I think he’s already proved that himself. When you’re that close coming down the stretch, you just know you will be in that spot again, and if you can stay patient enough, it will happen.
“At a personal level, I don’t know him all that well. I do know he’s from a little town in Scotland called Oban. Where he is strong is through the bag, and that’s what you need to do at the game’s highest level“.
Schauffele heads to the year’s maiden Major Championship having contested the past eight Masters, since making his debut in 2018, and with a best finish runner-up in 2019 and T3rd in 2021.
And the 32-year-old revealed what he is currently working on in the countdown to Augusta National.
Schauffele said: “It’s kind of important at this time of year to be thinking about the shots you will need to play when you get to Augusta.
“For me, it’s probably focussing more on getting my short game sorted and try hitting the putts that are going to break a bit more than most of the other putts you’ll hit“.
