I know I’ve posted something like this before, and make no apologies for doing it again 👍…
2016 Robert Macintyre had just lost in the final of The Amateur Championship and was going to be playing the following day at Macdonald Spey Valley Championship Golf Course in a practice round for a Challenge Tour event, as an amateur⛳️🏴…. BBC Radio Scotland asked me if I’d head up to Aviemore to interview him. Although I was delighted to do it, I was a little wary as I thought this kid is going to be devastated and might be a difficult interview. I had never met Robert before and didn’t really know what to expect😎!
Driving north up the A9 I’m thinking, “he’s just come so close to playing Augusta at The Masters, The Open etc, and all the other amazing invites that come with being Amateur Champion”. I put myself in his shoes and thought, “as well as being devastated the last thing I’d want is to have to sit there and talk about losing, and that I might just have missed my only ever chance to play in The Majors🙄”!
I waited in the Spey Valley clubhouse slightly nervous that this interview might not go that well🥴. Couple of minutes passed and in he comes grinning from ear to ear🤗… “Taity, nice to meet you big man, do you want a coffee or anything?”….. Wow, I wasn’t expecting that I’m thinking!
I went straight into the interview along the lines of “well done, you must be so proud but you must be equally gutted about just missing out and to think you were that close to teeing it up at Augusta next April and blah blah blah🙄”! He was having none of it🤗!! He just spoke about how he’d played great all week and it was an exciting final, and he was really chuffed that his game was in such good shape🏌️♂️. Not once did he have a moan or was down on himself, and it was clear to me it was something he wasn’t going to dwell on. We sat and chewed the fat for 15 mins or so and as each minute passed, I was finding myself so impressed and in total adulation the way he spoke and handled the interview for such a young guy😊!! Most would be sitting there totally broken, with a feeling the world’s against them. He was the complete opposite👍…
I couldn’t get The Masters out my head and right at the end I mentioned it again about how sorry I was that he wouldn’t get the chance to go to Augusta😩. He was genuinely now consoling me a bit and he finished up by saying, “big man it’s fine and I’m fine. Anyway I’ve got the rest of my life to play in The Masters, I’m sure there’ll be other opportunities ⛳️!!!” Wow!!
We said our goodbyes and he was off. I remember vividly thinking, “I’d love to see that guy be a huge success🙏”…. I hadn’t even ever seen him hit a ball, but I knew in just speaking to him for that short time, that Scotland could have something special on the horizon🏴💙…
I’ve met Robert a couple of times since and he’s never changed. Polite, humble, respectful and overall just such a grounded and unassuming good guy. The whole family are, and to see him and his dad together on that course last night, well it’s just what dreams are made of👍👏!!
So from Oban to Ontario, the lad from Glencruitten golf club wins The Canadian Open beating a star studded field. Amazing👍👏!!
The whole of Scotland is so proud of you and we’re all excited what’s next for Robert Macintyre🏴🙏…
And as for me going on about not playing The Masters, well he’ll be there again in April to make what will now be his 3rd appearance👍😎👏!!!
So weesht Taity, and let it go🤗😆!!
