Robert MacIntyre races into stunning lead in historic $20m PGA Tour event as putter heats up after two-hour storm delay
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ROBERT MACINTYRE produced a season's-best round with the putter to storm into the lead at one of the PGA Tour's most historic events.
The Scot carded an opening round of 62 (eight-under-par) at the BMW Championship after finishing on a hot streak of SIX birdies in a row.
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Robert MacIntyre in actin at the BMW Championship in Maryland, USA
Credit: AP
That score was enough to put him three shots clear of nearest challenger and fellow Brit Tommy Fleetwood on five-under.
World number one Scottie Scheffler is a shot further back on four-under, with Masters champion and world number two Rory McIlroy having to settle for an even-par round of 70.
The BMW Championship is the longest-running event on the PGA Tour circuit outside of the four majors.
It is the penultimate event of the FedEx Cup Playoffs and boasts a $20million (£14,891,480) purse.
Play was delayed for two hours at Caves Valley in Maryland due to a storm and after the inclement weather subsided, MacIntyre was the one to make the most of the softer conditions.
The 28-year-old from Oban acknowledges that scoring for the rest of the tournament won't be as simple but the world number 16, who looks a lock for the Ryder Cup, is feeling confident.
No wonder, considering he holed a 65-foot birdie putt on the 12th and followed that with one from 40 feet.
It's also believed this is the first time since the playoff format began that someone has finished a round with six consecutive birdies.
MacIntyre, aiming for his third win on the PGA Tour, said: "There's chances. If you drive the ball well, it does give you chances.
"I'm sure the next couple of days won't be as easy.
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"The last six holes is probably as good as I've ever putted in a stretch of holes.
"When I went back out, I had a 7-footer for birdie, which was going to set the tone for the rest of the afternoon, and I rolled that in nicely."
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