Bob MacIntyre in late dampener at Travelers on first outing after US Open high
Tartan ace has water issues late in the round at TPC River Highlands
Bob MacIntyre suffered a late dampener after his US Open highs at the beginning of his bid for success at the Travelers Championship.
The Scottish star went straight to Connecticut from the high-drama and thrills of his near-miss at Oakmont to the final signature event of the year on the PGA Tour at TPC River Highlands.
MacIntyre's opening round at the Travelers saw him make him a slip on the penultimate hole which left him at one-over par for tournament. The Oban ace carded 14 pars through his round and was sitting at one-under with two to go when he smashed a ball into the water. MacIntyre walked off with a double after that setback and signed for the 71 at the conclusion of his first effort post- Oakmont.
The Tartan hero is competing for the seventh-successive week having undertaken a gruelling stretch ahead of his return to Europe. MacIntyre started out at the Truist Championship in the second week of May and has continuing unbroken through the PGA Championship, Charles Schwab Challenge, Memorial, RBC Canadian Open and US Open before making it to the Travelers.
His efforts have paid off with a surge to World No.12 in the Official World Gold Rankings and a fourth-position slot in the qualifying standings for Europe's Ryder Cup side for the match against the United States at Bethpage in September.
MacIntyre has said: 'If you are planning a schedule, you probably wouldn't do six weeks, never mind going to a seventh [at the Travelers]. But I make big calls and I trust what I do. I just felt that was the right thing and we've built some good momentum and then a result like this comes. Look, I've put a lot of work into this. It's not just happening through luck. I've built a team around me that I think are the best I can get and they can support me. People that are known and people that are still unknown. I trust every one of them pretty much with my life.
'I mean, this is my job and this is my life, but it's all about trust. I trust them and they obviously trust me to go out there and try to deliver, as I almost did on this occasion.'
MacIntyre is due to return home to Oban for a rest period before his defence of the Genesis Scottish Open title at The Renaissance next month. Once he's done in East Lothian, the Scots hero will then across to Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland for the 153 Open Championship convinced he can do damage after his strong run at Oakmont.
MacIntyre believes he can seriously contend and, straight after the US Open, said: 'There's no reason why I can't win a major championship in my career and that's my goal now. I said I wanted to win the Scottish Open and I got that. I just want to win Majors now.'
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