It would seem the strong lure of fatherhood and best new season finish has seen Bob MacIntyre’s late withdraw from this week’s Valspar Championship in Florida.

MacIntyre had confirmed his appearance in the $9.1m tournament at the Innisbrook Resort a week ago but will now sit out these next two weeks and be with his young family.

The proud new dad is also $US 1.225m richer after his super fourth place result after Sunday’s concluding Players Championship at Tour HQ.

MacIntyre now has just one remaining event ahead of the April 9-12 Masters and that is the proceeding  week’s Valero Texas Open in San Antonio.

And despite his best new season finish last week (He share fourth in the Hawaiian Open), MacIntyre has been bumped back a place to new World No. 9 after Cameron Young’s stunning Sawgrass success has seen the American jump from World No. 15 to new No. 4.

As well, Xander Schauffele and who partnered MacIntyre over Sunday’s last day as the then World No. 10 is now the new No. 6.

Taking MacIntyre’s place as a late entry in this week’s Valspar Championship is good friend and double winning Ryder Cup colleague, Matt Fitzpatrick who gallantly went so close to success at TPC Sawgrass.

Fitzpatrick had led the event up until being joined atop of the board when Young birdied 17, only to lose out after a closing hole bogey.

And MacIntyre reached out to Fitzpatrick after his near victory at Ponte Vedra.

MacIntyre said: “Matt is a great guy, superb player. Obviously has come back from a little bit of a lull from the start of last year.

“He’s probably been in the top ​five in the world since halfway through last season and played so well this week.

“I’ve been lucky enough. He’s been a teammate in the Ryder Cup for two years now. Yeah, if it wasn’t me this week, then I was hoping it would be him.”