Bob MacIntyre tells US golf gripers why he’s swerving Memorial Tournament

One minute the American golf public were lauding Bob MacIntyre for his fairytale finish in Canada with his dad on the bag. The next they are accusing the Scot of lacking ambition and practically sticking two fingers up at golfing great Jack Nicklaus.

It’s no wonder Oban hero MacIntyre finds it hard to settle over there. They just don’t get him at all. He’s not sitting out the Memorial Tournament hosted by the legend of the game because he lacks ambition. Big Bob is taking time out because he’s knackered after a winning end to a run of six events on the bounce and now has the US Open at Pinehurst next week.

And as for lack of ambition? Well get this – MacIntyre doesn’t just want to mix it with the best from now on after his maiden PGA Tour win at the weekend. He wants to BE the best.

But MacIntyre is still only human and needs to catch his breath. He said: “I actually miscounted the tournaments that I’d played when I did a press conference last week. That was actually week six. And it’s been a good six weeks.

“The mental aspect of that six-week stretch was high and then obviously winning last week was an even bigger high, so if I played Memorial, the US Open and the Travelers, that would have been nine weeks in a row. Not many players would play nine weeks in a row, except probably me, the madman!

“I mean, the fifth week, at Colonial, I thought that was even a step too far after having obviously been in with a chance to win at Myrtle Beach, having an outside chance at the PGA Championship. So me and my team, we just thought it was the right thing to pull back, have a week off. It could have been any event.

“Yes, I get that it’s an elevated event, and it’s $20m or whatever it is. But does preparing right for the US Open not show ambition? That’s for you to decide.”

MacIntyre doesn’t need to convince anyone this side of the point. Scottish golf fans and across Europe in particular know a star on the rise when they see one. It’s been a tough journey at times for the hometown lad but each step has been significant, from gaining his DP World Tour card, winning in Europe, competing in the Ryder Cup and now becoming one of the few Scots to win on American soil.

No wonder people are now looking at the majors. One thing for sure, MacIntyre is not done yet and he has one huge ambition – to be the best player on the planet. He said: “What’s gonna happen from here? I don’t know. I mean, I’m just playing golf the best I can. We can week in, week out.

“Look, I want to be one of the best players in the world – if not THE best player in the world. But it’s not easy. It’s difficult.

“You see so many, so many good players who never, ever become world number one. But all you can do is try your best and trust what you’re doing. Trust the team around you and see where you end up.

“I think lately, especially the last six weeks that run of six events there that I’ve just done, something changed. The results have shown that, and to go over the line, this opens doors.

“But I’m not going to change as a person. My golf game’s probably not going to change an awful lot. Golf swing is not going to change, but it gives you belief that you can win on the PGA Tour.”

MacIntyre joked after winning the RBC Canadian Open in such emotional style with his father Dougie alongside him that the pair of them were heading home for a knees up to celebrate. But in reality this week will be more of a chance to reflect with those nearest and dearest.

MacIntyre said: “We’ve not had a party as such. I was never going to have a proper party. I’m sure I might have a few drinks for my mates at the weekend, probably in the house. But for me it was just getting home to the people that really matter.

“I just did something for me and my dad and my team and my family and everyone. We just did something pretty special. I just wanted to get home and spend time with the people that really matter in life.

“We landed back on Tuesday and had stuff to do and family wise. I spent some time with the young foster boy that my parents look after.

“There’ll probably be a family dinner. We’ll just sit and there won’t be crying this time! My dad can kind of hang up his caddy bib for just now, and we can just enjoy it.

“I was laughing out loud at the trophy ceremony on Sunday and telling my team I thought I was going to wake up from my dream. But it was real. I don’t know what’s gonna change from now, but I’ve realised that Scotland’s my home and it’s always going to be.”