On the teacakes.. Robert MacIntyre
Scots ace would rather go to the Tunnock’s than gym
Robert MacIntyre says the only thing you’ll see him lifting is a Tunnock’s Teacake as the Oban ace refuses to follow the crowd to hit the gym.
The 22- year- old insists he’l l f ind success by staying true to himself rather than towing the line perceived to be the norm for modern golfers since Tiger Woods transformed the sport.
So despite spending the first two days of his Scottish Open debut in the company of superstars Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler – two of the fittest players you’ll see on tour – MacIntyre has no interest in changing the formula that has served him so well.
He said: “I’m not doing more work in the gym, just more fitness and cardio. “I do a bit of stretching and resistance work with the elastic band but you won’t see me lifting heavy weights. Maybe l i fting Tunnock’s Teacakes instead!
“I haven’t felt pressure to make changes since I joined the main tour as everyone knows the way I am and that I will sort of shunt them off.
“I tried the gym when I was an amateur but the support I received for that wasn’t the greatest.
“Then I broke my elbow when I was 16 or 17 and the support I received from Scottish Golf for that was unbelievable.
“I started my physio when it was still broken because they didn’t want it to seize up.
“But mostly it’s about staying true to who you are so I don’t see why I would change anything.
“Maybe if I get to a certain level and think I’ve hit a barrier, I’ll look and see what I need to change.”
Drawing the dream duo of McIlroy and Fowler in this week’s f lagship group at The Renaissance has proved a valuable learning experience.
But perhaps even more crucially, keeping such exalted company will prepare him for the huge stage he will step on to this week when he makes his Major debut in The Open at Royal Portrush.
That will be a landmark moment to savour al l the more, having come agonisingly close to earning a place at The Open and the US Masters when he was the beaten finalist at the Amateur Championship in 2016.
MacIntyre added: “I was absolutely heartbroken then, especially to miss out on the Masters.
“For any golfer that’s the one you would love to go to.
“Although if I was to choose one I’d most love to win it would be The Open, and I thought I might not get that shot again, so to finally get the opportunity makes all the practice worthwhile.
“I’ve not spoken to any players about what to expect or go looking for a practice round with Tommy Fleetwood or someone like that which would put me in a different environment.
“I’m just going to do my own thing, maybe try to get a game with James Sugrue [the current Amateur champion] who I’ve played amateur golf with.
“Obviously I’d have to play if Tiger asked, but the chances of that are slim!”
With The Open a total sell-out for the first time in its history, the chances of many well wishers from Oban being there to cheer him on are next to nil.
However, he’ll be surrounded by his immediate family, which is probably for the best seeing as there’s major work being done at their home over the next few days.
When MacIntyre won his f irst big cheque as runner- up at the British Masters in May, he vowed to buy mum Carol a new kitchen.
When he was again runner-up at the Made in Denmark the following week she was probably eyeing up an AGA cooker too.
And at last the time has come for that promise to be delivered.
He smiled: “The kitchen is happening. It will be going in when we’re away at The Open.
“Mum is coming with us so she’s up the road right now packing up the old kitchen now and by the time we come home from The Open, there will be a new one. So hopefully the food is better!”
You won’t see me lifting heavy weights