The hidden Bob MacIntyre message that shows what he's really thinking about 2026 Major chances
Hard-working Bob MacIntyre has vowed to keep learning lessons in his Major quest.
The Scottish star produced excellent back-to-back displays at the US Open and The Open.
MacIntyre's runner-up finish at Oakmont was followed by a tied-seventh at Royal Portrush as he cemented his place amongst golf's elite.
The Oban ace has now racked up five Top 10 finishes in 19 Major starts and believes it's a matter of time in his career before he lands one.
MacIntyre has much to play for over the remainder of the 2025 campaign with Fed-Ex playoffs, The Ryder Cup at Bethpage and end-of-season DP World Tour Championship still to come.
However, it's clear MacIntyre already has thoughts on next term's Majors with a key response given while he talked after his final around at Portrush about learning experiences from the Scottish Open the previous week where he had some issues with his irons in concrete conditions.
He said: 'I was disappointed [Scottish Open]. A couple of things that, we didn't neglect, we just didn't dig deep enough into it. There's going to come a time when it's going to happen again and we are going to know why it happened. Whether that is Shinnecock next year with the firm turf, but the support I have had last week and this week have been unbelievable.'
MacIntyre's reference to Shinnecock Hills appears to show he already has been thinking about the chance to go one better than Oakmont as the venue for the 2026 US Open in June is that specific track on Long Island, New York.
As ever, the Masters will take place in April at Augusta, the PGA Championship will be held in May at Aronimink and The Open will return to Royal Birkdale in July. Before this year is out, MacIntyre has plenty on his plate with this week's short break followed by a return to the States for the Wyndham Championship.
He's ready to go for the rest of the season with The Ryder Cup in sight and he said: 'My job is to qualify by automatic so that Luke can do what he wants with the picks. I feel like the last two Majors have put a massive dent in that and it's just keep going, play golf, do what you do. Good golf takes care of The Ryder Cup.
'I can't be far away now. There's going to be, for me, three or four tournaments I play from now until the finish and, if I do my job well, I should be in that team. I'll fly to the States for the Wyndham. That should be me secure for East Lake now, so it'll be the three play-offs and then get ready for a bit of carnage.'
MacIntyre can feel his progression in the past year and said: 'It might not be visual as in on the FedEx or on the Race to Dubai, but statistically for me last year, me and [caddie] Mike were talking about it, it's not even night and day how much better I am at this game or how much more complete of a player. It's just streets ahead. It's just allowing that to happen in little pieces. I feel I'm still piecing it together and there's a lot still to come. I'm getting closer to where I want to be.'
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