Robert MacIntyre produced a sizzling display just a week out from the Masters in posting a six-under 66 on the opening day of the poor weather delayed Valero Texas Open in San Antonio.
The top-ranked Scot hit 11 of 14 in a bogey-free display of six birdies, with all birdies from his eighth hole to a pair of closing birdies at 17 and 18 at the host TPC San Antonio fairways.
MacIntyre’s effort, in the company of playing partners Texas Jordan Spieth and double Ryder Cup victory hero Ludwig Aberg, has him enjoying a five-way share of second place and trailing one adrift of American Mark Hubbard.
NEW DRIVER HAS BOB MAC ALL SMILES @valerotxopen …
Top Scot @robert1lefty packed a new driver in the bag for this week’s final event ahead of the @TheMasters and he’s been rewarded day one with 11 of 14 @TPCSanAntonio fairways & share of second.
“Felt like I drove the ball… pic.twitter.com/d3ECIkMGt9
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) April 3, 2026
Due to dangerous weather conditions in the morning, first-round tee times were delayed 90 minutes and started at 9:00 a.m. local US time. The first round was suspended at 7:56 p.m. due to darkness, with 24 players left to complete the round, and will resume Friday at 7:45 a.m. The second round will begin as scheduled at 7:30 a.m.
MacIntyre is returning to competition for a first time since his superb share of fourth place at the Players Championship.
And after quality time at home with his partner and new young son Findlay, there was no hiding MacIntyre’s joy to be back out on the PGA Tour.
“Yeah, it was a nice round, bogey free,“ he said.
“I felt like I drove the ball really well. Got a new driver in the bag, so yeah.
“The conditions obviously were good. A lot trickier, the wind got up pretty much as we were going to tee off, I knew it was going to be tough, but you have to take your chances.
“Almost on the back nine, a finishing stretch, some big opportunities and thankfully today I’d done that. Yeah, it was just a solid round of golf.“
The stuff of nightmares for many 15-handicaps …
Zero issue for Bobby Mac
PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/QPaQ7zhqiS
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 3, 2026
If there was a pick of MacIntuyre’s six birdies it would probably be his birdie at the par-5 18th where he hit a 307-yard dirver slap bang in the middle of the fairway, a second shot of 219-yards to just 77-yards and purposely short of the water ahead of a wedge to 13 feet and holing the birdie ‘4’ putt.
“I had a nice two weeks off, back with the family and the little one,“ he said.
“Of course there’s going to be a bit of rust, but like life’s good, so a happy me is always good. Normally when I’m in a good mind frame, the golf game, there’s no problems. Just kind of let it flow and that’s what I had done today“.
Of note, American Tony Finau shares second place with the Scot and it was Finau, who needs to win this week in Texas to secure the last Masters invitation, who spoke recently with GolfByTourMiss in singling out MacIntyre as his choice to win next week’s Masters
