By Martin Dempster - The Scotsman
joked that he’ll be on “baby-sitting” duties when he teams up with his
dad Dougie in next week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
The
duo have already proved a winning combination as player-caddie this
year after MacIntyre landed his maiden PGA Tour title triumph in the RBC
Canadian Open with Dougie caddying for him.
Dougie was back outside the ropes when the left-hander then added the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club and now they are set to team up as players.
“He is practising,” said MacIntyre with a smile of his dad, the head
greenkeeper at Glencruitten, getting himself ready for the DP World Tour
pro-am at Carnoustie, Kingsbarns and St Andrews.
“It
will be a bit of baby-sitting for me, I think,” he added, laughing.
“He’s just going to go there and hopefully enjoy it and I will enjoy it,
too, if he is smiling.”
Had
Dougie, a top shinty player in his day, required a bit of persuasion to
join Gerry McIlroy, who is partnering Rory, in showing off his golf
game in front of crowds in the $5 million event?
“He
did a little bit, but it will be a one and done thing probably and I
just hope he enjoys it and doesn’t get too worked up about it,” added
the Scottish No 1.
a natural, but he’s not played in years in terms of playing competitive
golf. I’m sure when the juices get flowing and he steps on that first
tee, he’ll feel ‘oh my god, what’s this we’ve got ourselves into’.”
For
the second time in four years, American Billy Horschel will be teeing
up in the event as the BMW PGA champion after his dramatic play-off win
over McIlroy on Sunday.
“It's
such a fun week, not only with the partners I've had but all the
amateurs that are involved,” said Horschel. “It's a really relaxed week
compared to the Pebble Beach AT&T Pro-Am; it's more corporate there.
“Whereas
at St Andrews, it's more of like a get-together, we're playing golf,
but we are also enjoying being on some special hallowed grounds.”
