Scottish Open champion Robert MacIntyre looks to complete a rare feat in his homeland by winning this week’s Open Championship at Royal Troon.
The last player to win the Scottish Open and an Open Championship in Scotland in the same year was Phil Mickelson in 2013.
MacIntyre also is seeking to become just the third Scottish player to lift the Claret Jug in the past 100 years, joining Paul Lawrie (1999) and Tommy Armour (1931).
MacIntyre arrived at Troon with momentum following an eagle-par-birdie finish to win by one shot on Sunday at The Renaissance Club.
He also arrived with a well-earned hangover after going “absolutely wild” following his Scottish Open triumph. Asked Wednesday to rate his celebration on a scale of 1 to 10, he gave it a 10.
“Look, I’m not a big drinker, but when you get moments like that that’s a childhood dream and a lifetime goal and you’ve got family and friends there that have backed you since you were a young kid, I think it was quite right to go absolutely wild,” MacIntyre said. “I think we done a good job of that.”
It was the second win of the season for MacIntyre following the Canadian Open in early June.
The 27-year-old still is seeking his first major win, with his best finish to date a tie for sixth at the Open Championship in 2019 at Royal Portrush.
After becoming the first Scot to win the Scottish Open in 25 years (Colin Montgomerie), he looks to become the first Scot to win the Open in 25 years (Lawrie).
“It’s possible,” MacIntyre said. “Tomorrow we’ll start off from level par. I’ve got as much chance as everyone else in the field. Same Thursday last week, I had the same chance as everyone else.
“It’s just about getting in that position on Sunday and seeing where the cards fall. Obviously last week they fell my way. My job is to go out there, fight as hard as I can, try my best, and hopefully get in a position where I can just have a chance.
“That’s all I can ask myself, and that’s the only bit of kind of anything that I want is just have a chance. If I do my job well enough and I hit the shots I see, execute them as well as I can, accept where they end up, then there’s a chance.”
–Field Level Media