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Bob MacIntyre's big boost as start of 2026 major campaign looms
By Martin Dempster - The Scotsman
Oban man has been steady rather than spectacular this year but his game looks in great shape
It's been more than a quarter of a century since Scotland produced a men's major winner - Paul Lawrie in The Open at Carnoustie in 1999 - and, you know what, it could well be another 25 years or so before we've got something really big to shout about again.
That's how difficult it is for anyone to land one of the game's biggest prizes and it is something that we should all remember as the 2026 major campaign looms on the horizon, with The Masters being followed on this occasion by a PGA Championship at Aronimink, the US Open visiting Shinnecock Hills and The Open being held at Royal Birkdale.
That said, there can be no denying that Scotland has a genuine contender at the moment when it comes to the events that really matter in the sport because Bob MacIntyre certainly has both the talent and potential to become a major champion.
It was absolutely huge for the Oban man when he came close to winning last year's US Open, having posted the clubhouse target in a gruelling final round at Oakmont before seeing J.J. Spaun produce a brilliant birdie-birdie finish to leave him having to settle for second spot.
MacIntyre then gave another good account of himself when finishing in the top ten in the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush the following month and has now recorded five top tens in what is still a relatively short career in the game's marquee tournaments.
He's also now had successive top-ten finishes in The Players Championship, having ended up ninth last year and then claiming solo fourth spot in the PGA Tour's flagship event at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach in Florida on Sunday.
Given that the 29-year-old had been joint-42nd and 12 shots off the lead at the halfway stage, it was a brilliant effort, having catapulted himself into contention by making nine birdies in a third-round 65 before being in with a definite chance of winning as the action unfolded on the back nine.
Make no mistake, the Pete Dye-designed Stadium Course is an absolute brute and you actually have to see it with your own eyes - as I was lucky to do for the first time a couple of years ago - to know that, from start to finish, it just never lets up.
Standing in the middle of the fairway at the par-5 16th, MacIntyre knew that if he could find the green and make a birdie, he might well have emulated Sandy Lyle's superb success in the event back in 1987, when the two-time major winner beat Jeff Sluman in a play-off.
‘Worst lie I could possibly get all week’
Alas, he came off his second shot with a 7-wood and was unlucky to find an awful lie in the rough, leaving him with a perilous chip, having to dig one out and, having no control on it, seeing it run all the way across the giant green before dropping over the edge of the wooden sleepers and into the water.
"I got the worst lie that I could possibly get all week in a kind of little valley where the mowers couldn't get to and it was six, seven inches long," he later revealed, doing well to limit the damage to a bogey before signing off with two solid pars.
In the end, he finished three shots behind Cameron Young, admitting it felt a "sore one right now" but had also been a "good week" and, rightly so, feeling proud of himself that he "gave it a shot" and had still "played aggressive but smart" on the final two holes following his untimely setback.
It’s no surprise that lots of Scots are feeling excited about what lies ahead for MacIntyre this season, starting at Augusta National, where he tied for 12th on his debut in 2021 then gave another good account of himself by finishing in the top 25 again the following year before missing the cut last year on his return to that particular stage after a two-year absence.
Bob MacIntyre and caddie Mike Burrow talk tactics during the last round of The Players Championship | Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
In six events so far this year on the PGA Tour, he’s been steady rather spectacular but making cuts is a great habit when you are playing at the top level and his worst score in 16 rounds has been a 73 while 12 of those efforts have been in the 60s.
He talked on Sunday about how he feels he is “driving it beautifully” and “putting unbelievable” and, if he can keep it that way when he heads up Magnolia Lane in just under three weeks’ time, then, yes, he could be in with a chance as be bids to try and emulate Lyle once again.
If not, MacIntyre will move on to Aronimink, Shinnecock Hills and Royal Birkdale knowing that he has the game to get himself in the major mix and that, more than anything, it’s about trying to stay patient and letting things happen rather than trying to force the issue.
Just think about Matt Fitzpatrick, for example, when he won the US Open at Brookline Country Club in Boston in 2022 and certainly don’t be surprised if he adds to that tally over the next few years because, although he was denied by Young at TPC Sawgrass, the Englishman is one of those players who thrives on big occasions.
‘Child’s play compared to Bethpage’
Though helped, of course, by the fact, they are TGL team-mates, it was very classy indeed to see Fitzpatrick masking his own disappointment to show genuine joy for Young on Sunday, when, over the past couple of holes, it felt more like a Ryder Cup as the fans starting singing “USA, USA!”
“Listen, that was literally child's play compared to Bethpage,” said a smiling Fitzpatrick, referring to the awful abuse aimed at the Europeans in last year’s Ryder Cup. “If they think that that was anything, then they need to reassess. Get yourself up to New York!”
It’s Ireland next, of course, for that event and, with Fitzpatrick, MacIntyre, Ludvig Aberg, Tommy Fleetwood, Sepp Straka, Justin Rose and Viktor Hovland all finishing in the top 15 on Sunday, then Luke Donald should be a contended European captain once again.
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Results and Prize Breakdown from the American Express
The American Express
22 - 25 January, 2026ESPN+/Golf ChannelLa Quinta Country Club - La Quinta, CAPar72Yards7060PGA West (Nicklaus Tournament Course) - La Quinta, CAPar72Yards7147Pete Dye Stadium Course - La Quinta, CAPar72Yards7210Purse$9,200,000Previous WinnerSepp StrakaFinalPOS PLAYER SCORE R1 R2 R3 R4 TOT EARNINGS FEDEX PTS 1 
Scottie Scheffler-27 63 64 68 66 261 $1,656,000 500 T2 
Jason Day-23 63 71 67 64 265 $616,400 184 T2 Ryan Gerard-23 70 66 64 65 265 $616,400 184 T2 Andrew Putnam-23 72 60 65 68 265 $616,400 184 T2 Matt McCarty-23 63 66 68 68 265 $616,400 184 T6 Sam Stevens-22 64 67 68 67 266 $322,000 95 T6 
Si Woo Kim-22 63 65 66 72 266 $322,000 95 T8 Sahith Theegala-21 71 64 67 65 267 $250,700 75 T8 Russell Henley-21 65 66 69 67 267 $250,700 75 T8 
Haotong Li-21 68 67 64 68 267 $250,700 75 T8 Austin Smotherman-21 66 65 68 68 267 $250,700 75 T8 Tom Hoge-21 64 68 65 70 267 $250,700 75 T13 David Ford-20 67 66 70 65 268 $169,740 55 T13 Zach Bauchou-20 65 70 65 68 268 $169,740 55 T13 Patrick Cantlay-20 63 68 68 69 268 $169,740 55 T13 Jacob Bridgeman-20 64 66 69 69 268 $169,740 55 T13 Wyndham Clark-20 66 64 66 72 268 $169,740 55 T18 Will Zalatoris-19 65 70 70 64 269 $117,607 44 T18 S.H. Kim-19 63 66 74 66 269 $117,607 44 T18 Karl Vilips-19 67 65 70 67 269 $117,607 44 T18 Pierceson Coody-19 62 72 67 68 269 $117,607 44 T18 Rickie Fowler-19 67 63 71 68 269 $117,607 44 T18 Blades Brown-19 67 60 68 74 269 $117,607 0 T24 
Harry Hall-18 72 66 67 65 270 $81,420 36 T24 Adam Scott-18 65 69 68 68 270 $81,420 36 T24 Ben Griffin-18 63 68 69 70 270 $81,420 36 T27 Billy Horschel-17 64 69 72 66 271 $57,918 25 T27 Max McGreevy-17 66 68 70 67 271 $57,918 25 T27 Max Homa-17 66 69 68 68 271 $57,918 25 T27 Jordan Smith-17 64 70 68 69 271 $57,918 25 T27 
Matthieu Pavon-17 64 70 68 69 271 $57,918 25 T27 Sam Ryder-17 68 66 68 69 271 $57,918 25 T27 Johnny Keefer-17 68 65 69 69 271 $57,918 25 T27 Harris English-17 65 67 70 69 271 $57,918 25 T27 
Nick Taylor-17 65 65 72 69 271 $57,918 25 T27 Sam Burns-17 65 67 68 71 271 $57,918 25 T27 Eric Cole-17 64 66 66 75 271 $57,918 25 T38 Tom Kim-16 72 66 66 68 272 $39,100 16 T38 
Christiaan Bezuidenhout-16 68 67 69 68 272 $39,100 16 T38 
Robert MacIntyre-16 63 72 67 70 272 $39,100 16 T38 Joel Dahmen-16 69 66 67 70 272 $39,100 16 T38 Min Woo Lee-16 62 71 69 70 272 $39,100 16 T38 J.T. Poston-16 66 67 65 74 272 $39,100 16 T44 Ricky Castillo-15 68 73 64 68 273 $25,377 9 T44 Carson Young-15 69 69 67 68 273 $25,377 9 T44 Patrick Rodgers-15 70 67 68 68 273 $25,377 9 T44 
Rafael Campos-15 66 70 69 68 273 $25,377 9 T44 Matt Kuchar-15 66 68 71 68 273 $25,377 9 T44 Alex Smalley-15 67 70 67 69 273 $25,377 9 T44 Keith Mitchell-15 68 64 72 69 273 $25,377 9 T44 Dylan Wu-15 66 73 64 70 273 $25,377 9 T44 A.J. Ewart-15 71 65 67 70 273 $25,377 9 T44 
Rasmus Højgaard-15 68 65 70 70 273 $25,377 9 T44 David Lipsky-15 68 65 70 70 273 $25,377 9 T44 
Ryo Hisatsune-15 68 65 69 71 273 $25,377 9 T56 Denny McCarthy-14 67 70 68 69 274 $20,884 5 T56 Michael Brennan-14 71 66 68 69 274 $20,884 5 T56 Taylor Moore-14 70 68 66 70 274 $20,884 5 T56 John Parry-14 67 70 67 70 274 $20,884 5 T56 Daniel Berger-14 68 66 70 70 274 $20,884 5 T56 Davis Riley-14 66 71 66 71 274 $20,884 5 T56 Max Greyserman-14 67 65 71 71 274 $20,884 5 T63 Mac Meissner-13 70 64 71 70 275 $19,688 4 T63 Davis Chatfield-13 65 70 69 71 275 $19,688 4 T63 Chandler Phillips-13 66 68 70 71 275 $19,688 4 T63 Chad Ramey-13 67 73 63 72 275 $19,688 4 T63 
Séamus Power-13 67 68 68 72 275 $19,688 4 T63 Matt Fitzpatrick-13 69 67 65 74 275 $19,688 4 69 
Adrien Dumont de Chassart-12 71 65 67 73 276 $19,044 3 T70 Zach Johnson-10 67 71 67 73 278 $18,768 3 T70 Adrien Saddier-10 68 69 66 75 278 $18,768 3 72 Gary Woodland-9 66 69 69 75 279 $18,492 3 73 Zecheng Dou-6 66 70 69 77 282 $18,308 3 - Kurt KitayamaCUT 71 69 66 -- 206 -- 0 - Austin EckroatCUT 66 74 66 -- 206 -- 0 - Brandt SnedekerCUT 71 67 68 -- 206 -- 0 - Sudarshan YellamarajuCUT 70 68 68 -- 206 -- 0 - Brice GarnettCUT 70 67 69 -- 206 -- 0 - 
Kris VenturaCUT 70 67 69 -- 206 -- 0 - 
Camilo VillegasCUT 69 68 69 -- 206 -- 0 - Davis ThompsonCUT 69 68 69 -- 206 -- 0 - Takumi KanayaCUT 67 70 69 -- 206 -- 0 - Doug GhimCUT 68 68 70 -- 206 -- 0 - Keita NakajimaCUT 65 71 70 -- 206 -- 0 - Taylor PendrithCUT 67 68 71 -- 206 -- 0 - Bud CauleyCUT 67 66 73 -- 206 -- 0 - Andrew NovakCUT 64 68 74 -- 206 -- 0 - Adam SvenssonCUT 74 70 63 -- 207 -- 0 - Kevin RoyCUT 72 68 67 -- 207 -- 0 - Michael KimCUT 71 68 68 -- 207 -- 0 - Harry HiggsCUT 66 73 68 -- 207 -- 0 - Chris KirkCUT 69 69 69 -- 207 -- 0 - Hank LebiodaCUT 68 70 69 -- 207 -- 0 - Kevin StreelmanCUT 67 71 69 -- 207 -- 0 - 
Stephan JaegerCUT 71 66 70 -- 207 -- 0 - Tony FinauCUT 68 68 71 -- 207 -- 0 - Jason DufnerCUT 69 65 73 -- 207 -- 0 - 
Jesper SvenssonCUT 72 70 66 -- 208 -- 0 - Lee HodgesCUT 70 71 67 -- 208 -- 0 - Steven FiskCUT 68 72 68 -- 208 -- 0 - 
Emilio GonzálezCUT 68 72 68 -- 208 -- 0 - Lanto GriffinCUT 71 66 71 -- 208 -- 0 - Peter MalnatiCUT 66 70 72 -- 208 -- 0 - Matt WallaceCUT 66 70 72 -- 208 -- 0 - Beau HosslerCUT 65 71 72 -- 208 -- 0 - Justin RoseCUT 72 63 73 -- 208 -- 0 - Erik van RooyenCUT 67 67 74 -- 208 -- 0 - 
Emiliano GrilloCUT 67 76 66 -- 209 -- 0 - Danny WalkerCUT 72 69 68 -- 209 -- 0 - Brian HarmanCUT 73 67 69 -- 209 -- 0 - Jeffrey KangCUT 73 67 69 -- 209 -- 0 - Vince WhaleyCUT 63 77 69 -- 209 -- 0 - 
Sami VälimäkiCUT 69 70 70 -- 209 -- 0 - Dan BrownCUT 67 71 71 -- 209 -- 0 - Frankie Capan IIICUT 71 66 72 -- 209 -- 0 - Alex NorenCUT 68 69 72 -- 209 -- 0 - 
Kevin YuCUT 66 71 72 -- 209 -- 0 - Patton KizzireCUT 69 67 73 -- 209 -- 0 - Michael ThorbjornsenCUT 66 65 78 -- 209 -- 0 - John VanDerLaanCUT 74 69 67 -- 210 -- 0 - Aldrich PotgieterCUT 73 69 68 -- 210 -- 0 - Marcelo RozoCUT 71 70 69 -- 210 -- 0 - Kensei HirataCUT 69 72 69 -- 210 -- 0 - Chan KimCUT 69 67 74 -- 210 -- 0 - S.T. LeeCUT 68 68 74 -- 210 -- 0 - William MouwCUT 66 70 74 -- 210 -- 0 - Mackenzie HughesCUT 72 72 67 -- 211 -- 0 - 
Jhonattan VegasCUT 70 72 69 -- 211 -- 0 - Neal ShipleyCUT 72 69 70 -- 211 -- 0 - Gordon SargentCUT 69 69 73 -- 211 -- 0 - Nico EchavarriaCUT 67 63 81 -- 211 -- 0 - Joe HighsmithCUT 70 71 71 -- 212 -- 0 - Chandler BlanchetCUT 69 69 74 -- 212 -- 0 - Isaiah SalindaCUT 68 70 74 -- 212 -- 0 - Mark HubbardCUT 66 78 69 -- 213 -- 0 - Patrick FishburnCUT 68 70 75 -- 213 -- 0 - Matti SchmidCUT 67 69 77 -- 213 -- 0 - 
Sepp StrakaCUT 72 74 68 -- 214 -- 0 - Michael BlockCUT 73 70 71 -- 214 -- 0 - Jackson SuberCUT 66 71 77 -- 214 -- 0 - Brian CampbellCUT 74 70 71 -- 215 -- 0 - Akshay BhatiaCUT 68 69 78 -- 215 -- 0 - Charley HoffmanCUT 72 74 70 -- 216 -- 0 - Justin LowerCUT 71 75 70 -- 216 -- 0 - Adam LongCUT 73 69 74 -- 216 -- 0 - Adam SchenkCUT 75 70 73 -- 218 -- 0 - Jimmy StangerCUT 77 70 72 -- 219 -- 0 - Cam DavisCUT 70 74 75 -- 219 -- 0 - Christo LamprechtCUT 77 67 76 -- 220 -- 0 - Alejandro TostiCUT 78 68 75 -- 221 -- 0 - Andrew LandryCUT 71 77 74 -- 222 -- 0 - Pontus NyholmCUT 78 70 78 -- 226 -- 0 - Ludvig ÅbergWD 68 67 -- -- 135 -- 0 - Luke ClantonWD 70 -- -- -- 70 -- 0 - 
Rico HoeyWD 77 -- -- -- 77 -- 0 - Nick DunlapWD 77 -- -- -- 151 -- 0 Glossary
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Bob MacIntyre makes big schedule call in his bid to ignite Ryder Cup push
By Martin Dempster - The Scotsman
Scot set to play seven weeks in a row in US after change of plan for Charles Schwab Challenge
Bob MacIntyre has committed to a marathon seven-event stretch in North America as the Ryder Cup hopeful bids to ignite his season.
After playing in the Truist Championship, one of the PGA Tour’s Signature Events, and the PGA Championship back to back, MacIntyre had been due to take this week off.
However, the Oban man is teeing up along with last weekend’s Wanamaker Trophy winner Scottie Scheffler in the Charles Schwab Challenge, which starts in Fort Worth on Thursday.
MacIntyre will then play in next week’s Memorial Tournament presented by Workday at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Ohio before defending his RBC Canadian Open title in Toronto the following week.
The US Open, the season’s third major and being held on this occasion at Oakmont in Pennsylvania, follows straight after that and then he’ll play in The Travelers Championship, another of the $20 million Signature Events, in Connecticut as well.
After all that, the left-hander will then have a two-week break before defending the Genesis Scottish Open title back on home soil at The Renaissance Club in East Lothian.
Scot sits 52nd in FedEx Cup Standings
MacIntyre sits 52nd in the FedEx Cup Standings, having teed up in 12 events on the US circuit this year and recording two top-ten finishes. He tied for sixth in the WM Phoenix Open and ended up ninth in The Players Championship.
He talked during last week’s PGA of America major, though, about how he was feeling “behind” where he wants to be at this stage of the season and a disappointing weekend at Quail Hollow after being in the top ten at the halfway stage wasn’t what he was looking for either.
After being part of a winning team on his debut in the event in 2023, Bob MacIntyre is determined to be part of Europe’s Ryder Cup defence at Bethpage Black in September | Andrew Redington/Getty Images
However, the fact he’s playing in big event after big event means the Scot just needs one really good week and even a couple of decent ones to achieve his goals for this year.
The top 70 in the FedEx Cup Standings after the Wyndham Championship at the end of July/beginning of August get into the FedEx St Jude Championship - the first FedEx Cup Play-Off event.
It’s then the top 50 on the points list who qualify for the BMW Championship in Maryland before the leading 30 progress to The Tour Championship in Atlanta towards the end of August.
Oban man’s main goal is to make Ryder Cup team again
His main 2025 goal, of course, is to play for Europe in a second successive Ryder Cup and that’s what will be driving him more than anything else over the next five weeks and all the way through to the end of the qualification battle at the conclusion of the Betfred British Masters at The Belfry the same week as the Tour Championship in the US.
In other events this week, two-time winner Colin Montgomerie is being joined in flying the Saltire by Stephen Gallacher and Greig Hutcheon in the $3.5m Senior PGA Championship at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda in Maryland.
And, on the DP World Tour, it’s a Soudal Open assignment at Rinkven International Golf Club in Antwerp for Ewen Ferguson, Calum Hill, Connor Syme, Grant Forrest and Scott Jamieson.
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Can Bob MacIntyre win The Masters? Major champions deliver verdict on Scot
By Martin Dempster - The Scotsman
Bob MacIntyre is heading back to The Masters for the first time in three years truly believing he can emulate fellow Scot Sandy Lyle by winning a Green Jacket, according to two former major champions.
The Oban man finished joint-12th in his debut appearance at Augusta National in 2021 to clinch a return trip 12 months later, when he narrowly missed out on a place in the top 20 in the season’s opening major.
He’s had to sit out the last two editions after failing to secure an invitation, but the 28-year-old is now gearing up for an eagerly-anticipated return to the Georgia venue next week as a world’s top-20 player after winning both the RBC Canadian Open and Genesis Scottish Open last year.
Lyle created history as the first player from the UK to claim a Green Jacket in 1988 and, though it will be a tall order for MacIntyre to emulate his compatriot, former US Open champions Curtis Strange and Andy North both believe the current Scottish No 1 is making this journey up Magnolia Lane with a genuine chance.
“He's got speed. He's got talent. He's won now,” said double US Open winner Strange, speaking in an ESPN media conference call ahead of the 89th Masters, which gets underway next Thursday, of the left-hander. “It's hard to put into words the importance of winning and what that does for just your self-belief.
“Do you walk around with your chest puffed out all day long? No, but when a shot comes out the next day or the next month or next month at the Masters, you know down deep inside that you've done it under the gun. You believe in yourself a little bit more.
“Whoever wins The Masters this year is basically the same player that they were the day before. The difference is, if it's a young kid, the belief in yourself, the confidence to do it again and again and again. It's huge. He has that right now.”
North, who also landed two title triumphs in the US Open, talked up MacIntyre, who will be the sole Scot in the field on this occasion after having Lyle for company on both his previous appearances and Martin Laird, too, for the first one, as well on the same call.
“I don't see Bob being much of a different player today than he was maybe two years ago,” said the ESPN golf analyst. “I just think for the first time, he really believes that he can do it, and that's such a big part of it. I think deep down, he knows he can win. He knows that he can beat these guys. I don't think he knew that two or three years ago.”
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Career grand-slam chasing Rory McIlroy in exciting new position heading into The Masters
By Martin Dempster - The ScotsmanNorthern Irishman becomes just eight player to land multiple wins in The Players ChampionshipRory McIlroy is heading to Augusta National for his latest attempt to win The Masters and become just the sixth player to complete a career grand slam in a brand-new position.
For the first time, the Northern Irishman has won twice on the PGA Tour before the season’s first major, having backed up a west coast victory in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am last month by landing a second success in The Players Championship on the east coast.
McIlroy comfortably beat American J.J. Spaun in a three-hole play-off on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach on Monday, becoming just the eighth player to record multiple wins in the US circuit’s flagship event.
He joins the likes of 18-time major champion Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and current world No 1 Scottie Scheffler on that list and, after ten unsuccessful attempts so far, the 35-year-old certainly has a spring in his step for his latest crack at that career grand slam.
“I did it a different way this week,” said McIlroy as he overcame being wayward off the tee at times to pull off a 28th PGA Tour title triumph. “I had to putt well. I needed to chip the ball well. I played a lot of good escape shots from the pine straw, which I saw way too much of this week.
“But, yeah, I feel if one part of my game isn’t there, I have other parts to bail me out and that is a really nice feeling to have in your golf game.”
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Hide AdAfter being disappointed to let a three-shot lead slip out of his grasp in Sunday’s weather-interrupted final round, the world No 2 showed he meant business in the play-off by booming a 336-yard drive down the par-5 16th to leave himself a wedge to set up a birdie.
Already finding himself a shot ahead, he then piled the pressure on his opponent by finding the heart of the green with a three-quarter 9-iron at the 17th and Spaun, admittedly getting a bit unlucky with a shot that flew through the wind instead of being held up by it, ended up taking a 6 after going long into the water.
Even though McIlroy three-putted, he took a four-shot lead to the 18th and, after staying dry with his tee shot, a repeat of his victory in 2019 had been secured.
“I’m really proud of my body of work,” he added of becoming a multiple winner on the circuit for a ninth season. “I turned pro in 2007. My season on the PGA Tour was 2009 and I’ve tried to get better every year and I feel like I am continually trying to do that.
“The younger guys coming out now are getting better and better every single year and I need to keep working hard to hang with them and I am doing a pretty good job of it and I feel like I still have quite a few years left in the tank. Really happy. Really proud. I can’t wait for what’s ahead.”
This was McIlroy’s third career win on St Patrick’s Day and, if he can stay out of his own way at Augusta National, this could well be the year he finally joins Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Nicklaus and Woods on that career grand slam list.
“Yeah, I’m playing well; I’m in good form,” he said with a smile. “I feel like this form has continued from the back end of last year, when I played a lot of good golf without really getting the wins. I knew if I stayed patient the wins would come and that’s what has happened this year.”
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Bob MacIntyre pockets more than $1m in 'satisfying' Florida flourish
By Martin Dempster - The ScotsmanScot finishes ninth in just his second appearance in The Players ChampionshipBob MacIntyre picked up more than $1 million for what the Oban man described as a “solid two weeks on the road” in his PGA Tour double-header in Florida.
MacIntyre delivered the verdict after following a tie for 11th in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill by claiming ninth spot in The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.
The 28-year-old signed off with a three-under-par 69 on the Pete Dye-designed Stadium Course at the Ponte Vedra Beach venue to finish with an eight-under total.
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I should share my phone with you - PGA Tour chief on his DP World Tour hotline
By Martin Dempster - The ScotsmanJay Monahan insists Wentworth counterpart is “fully understanding” about ongoing talksJay Monahan insists the PGA Tour and DP World Tour are both “fully understanding each other” about ongoing negotiations aimed at establishing a reunification at the top level in golf.
In recent weeks, Monahan has been part of a PGA Tour delegation that has held two meetings with US President Donald Trump in the White House, the second of which was also attended by Public Investment Fund chief Yasir Al-Rumayyan.
Speaking at his annual pre-event media conference at The Players Championship at Sawgrass on Tuesday, Monahan delivered another positive update about what has come out of those meetings, albeit without being able to add any meat to the bare bones.
“The talks are real, they're substantial, and they're being driven at the top levels of both organisations,” said the PGA Tour commissioner. “Those talks have been significantly bolstered by President Trump's willingness to serve as a facilitator.
“President Trump is a lifelong golf fan. He believes strongly in the game's power and potential, and he has been exceedingly generous with his time and influence to help bring a deal together.
“He wants to see the game reunified. We want to see the game reunified. His involvement has made the prospect of reunification very real.”
Monahan was accompanied at the first White House meeting by Adam Scott, a member of the PGA Tour’s Player Advisory Council, with Tiger Woods, who also sits on that, joining the duo for the second meeting a fortnight ago.
“When you're in the midst of complex negotiations, particularly when you may be near a breakthrough, there are ebbs and flows in the discussion,” added Monahan. “The most important thing is the mutual respect that we've built over the last couple of years.
“We appreciate Yasir's innovative vision, and we can see a future where we welcome him on to our board and work together to move the global game forward.
“As part of our negotiations, we believe there's room to integrate important aspects of LIV Golf into the PGA Tour platform. We're doing everything that we can to bring the two sides together.
“That said, we will not do so in a way that diminishes the strength of our platform or the very real momentum we have with our fans and our partners. So while we've removed some hurdles, others remain. But like our fans, we still share the same sense of urgency to get to a resolution.
“Our team is fully committed to reunification. The only deal that we would regret is one that compromises the essence of what makes the game of golf and the PGA Tour so exceptional.”
No mention had been made of the DP World Tour until close to the end of an hour-long session in the media building at the Ponte Vedra Beach until Monahan was asked about its role in the negotiations.
The Wentworth-based circuit entered an alliance with the PGA Tour in November 2020 and was part of the framework agreement agreed with PIF in May 2023.
“I should share my phone with you,” said Monahan. “I'm on the phone with (DP World Tour CEO) Guy Kinnings virtually every single day. Guy and Eric [Nicoli, the European Tour Group chairman) are here for the week. Guy and Eric participated in our board meeting just a few weeks ago. I will be in the UK at their board meeting on March 24th.
“Anything that I and we are doing as it relates to our negotiations or thinking about how we're going to continue to improve as an organization, they are aware of, and I and they themselves go out of their way to make certain that we're both fully understanding each other as these conversations evolve.
“So when you make a commitment like we did to each other when we formed our alliance, that's a commitment, and I feel very proud of the way that we have both together honored that commitment. And again, I can't understate the importance of the role that they're playing as our partners.”
Away from the negotiations, Monahan announced that steps are to be taken by the PGA Tour to try and speed up play, starting with the publication of stats later this season.
In addition, a new speed-of-play policy, which will include assessing penalty strokes for slow play, on the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour Americas will begin next month while range finders will be tested at the six PGA Tour events between The Masters and PGA Championship.
“We're excited to learn more about the impact of increased transparency and accountability through these efforts,” said Monahan of the circuit taking action after the LPGA had already decided to do likewise this year.
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Ryder Cup hopeful makes stunning PGA Tour breakthrough
By Martin Dempster - The ScotsmanThomas Detry creates history as first Belgian to land victory on US circuit !Thomas Detry reckons he’d be ready for a Ryder Cup debut at Bethpage Page Black in September after winning for the first time on the PGA Tour in front of rowdy American fans in the WM Phoenix Open.
The 32-year-old created history by becoming the first Belgian to taste victory on the US circuit and did so in style as he finished with four straight birdies in a closing 65 at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona to win by seven shots.
“Incredible,” said Detry of his success, which came in his 68th start on the PGA Tour. “I felt nervous yesterday morning, and last night didn't sleep great. I woke up this morning early, 4am, couldn't fall back asleep.
“But I kind of really trusted myself. I felt like I've been doing a lot of really good things in the past to put myself in that position, and I felt like I was kind of ready to win. So, deep inside, this one nobody was going to take it away from me.”
Detry, who won on the Challenge Tour in 2016 and had come close a few times to landing a maiden DP World Tour victory before securing his PGA Tour card, is up to second in the FedEx Cup Standings behind Austrian Sepp Straka.
The win also boosted Detry’s hopes of becoming just the third Belgian to play in the Ryder Cup after Nicolas Colsaerts (2012) and Thomas Pieters (2016).
“I feel like the atmosphere at Bethpage would be pretty similar to this, especially for me as a European. Lots of people
“The Ryder Cup is something that I really want to be part of. I don't want to say it's a goal. Like I don't play golf this year to reach that Ryder Cup team. I think my good game and my achieving my goals will kind of naturally qualify me for the Ryder Cup team.
“I've been watching the Ryder Cup now on TV every single year, and being part of it would definitely be a dream. But I'm not really getting ahead of myself. I'm not getting over-excited. It's still a very long way away. There's still lots of golf to be played.”
Bob MacIntyre, who partnered Detry in last year’s Zurich Classic in New Orleans, recorded his first top-ten finish of the new PGA Tour season after ending up in joint-sixth.
The Genesis Scottish Open champion had moved into a tie for second after stiffing his tee shot at the par-3 12th to be four under for the day.
However, he was then unable to make birdies at either the 13th or 15th - two par 5s - as he signed off with a 67 to end up on 15 under par.
The Oban man would have been slightly disappointed at the end but, nonetheless, it was a solid week’s work heading into the next Signature Event, the Genesis Invitational starting at Torrey Pines on Thursday.
Meanwhile, a closing 74 - her worst round of the week - left Gemma Dryburgh having to settle for joint-39th behind American Yealimi Noh in the LPGA’s Founders Cup presented by U.S. Virgin Islands in Florida.
shouting at me,” said Detry with a smile of September’s clash in New York.
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PGA Tour RSM Classic
MAVERICK MCNEALY FIRES 62 FOR SHARE OF LEAD AT RSM CLASSICMaverick McNealy and Michael Thorbjornsen are tied for the lead after one round of The RSM Classic on Thursday in St. Simons Island, Ga.At the finale of the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup Fall series, golfers are playing Sea Island Golf Club's two courses over the first two days of the tournament. McNealy began the week at the par-70 Seaside Course and fired an 8-under-par 62, with one eagle, six birdies and no bogeys on his card.Thorbjornsen, meanwhile, shot a bogey-free, 8-under 64 at the par-72 Plantation Course. They will switch courses on Friday before everyone who makes the cut plays the Seaside Course on Saturday and Sunday.McNealy and Thorbjornsen are one shot ahead of Andrew Novak, who posted a 7-under 65 at the Plantation Course.PGA Tour rookie Adrien Dumont de Chassart of Belgium recorded a career-low 64 at the Seaside Course to get his week going, and he's in a tie for fourth at 6 under with Chandler Phillips (66, Plantation).It's the final opportunity for Dumont de Chassart to climb into the top 125 of the FedEx Cup Fall points standings in order to earn a full PGA Tour card for 2025. As it stands after Thursday, he would jump from No. 142 to No. 124 in the standings. Thorbjornsen can benefit this week, as well; he'd rocket from No. 138 to No. 77 in points if the tournament ended today.McNealy, 29, began his round on the back nine at Seaside and was 2 under par when he reached the par-5 15th. He chipped in for eagle from almost 58 feet away."I drove it awesome. Iron play was about as good as it's been all year," McNealy said. "The last three tournaments it's really been great and that's the part of my game I've wanted to improve the most. I chipped in today, got everything up and down and putted awesome today, too. There's really nothing weak out there."McNealy entered the week No. 52 in the fall standings. He's guaranteed to finish the fall in the top 60, which qualifies him for two signature events in 2025. But to get in the 2025 season opener -- the Sentry in Kapalua, Hawaii -- McNealy must win an event, something he's yet to do in his tour career."I started the fall wanting to be in the top 60 and now that that's pretty much taken care of, (caddie Scout McNealy) and I want to get to Kapalua," he said.Thorbjornsen, 23, was back in contention after he had to withdraw from his last start at the Black Desert Championship with a knee issue."We got an MRI a couple days later and I sprained my ACL and LCL," Thorbjornsen explained. "So really glad that nothing was torn. I thought I might have torn my meniscus or something like that. Yeah, we've just been doing rehab and PT for the past three, four weeks now."Novak, 29, makes his home in St. Simons and would love nothing more than to get his first career PGA Tour victory there."It's a home event so there's always a little bit more pressure maybe just because you've got people in town, it's your home course, you want to win, you want to do well," he said.Swedish star Ludvig Aberg, the defending champion, struggled to a 3-over 73 at the Seaside Course and is on track to miss Friday's cut.Inquirer Golf
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Hayston Golf Club Pro-Am / Friday 21st June
- We are delighted to announce that we are bringing the a Pro AM back to Hayston this year!
This is a fantastic chance to play with one of Scotland’s top PGA Professionals aas well as win some amazing prizes on the day.
The cost to enter is £300 per team of 3 and includes lunch.
If you would like to enter please contact gm@haystongolf.co.uk
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Junior PGA Coaching / Golf Camp - Nairn Golf Club
- https://www.murrayurquhartgolf.com/junior-camps?
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Why business should support The PGA
- Northern Open
Tournaments such as the Northern Open which has been played now for almost 100 years can only go ahead if business get involved.
It is with huge gratitude and thanks from all the players and the PGA Scottish Region that businesses from all over Scotland are willing to support the tournaments and in turn support the rising stars of Scottish Golf 🏴👍⛳️
With that - The PGA of Scotland support many charities and it was fantastic to see their support of Prostate Cancer ❤️
Also it goes without saying that the generosity of the host clubs for PGA events is hugely appreciated and all the clubs give up so much for the players to ply their trade. This week the unbelievable setting at beautiful Cruden Bay Golf Club provided everyone involved with a truly memorable experience.
Finally on behalf of the PGA Scottish Region,
all the players and officials and Cruden Bay Golf Club, a massive thank you goes to the extremely generous sponsors of this week’s Northern Open.
TEXO Group Aberdeen
https/: www.texo.co.uk
Texo
MACKIES of Scotland
https/: www.mackies.co.uk
Mackies Ice Cream
CONTINENTAL ALLOYS & SERVICES Peterhead Ltd
https/: www.contalloy.com
Continental Alloys & Services Limited
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Robert MacIntyre keeps it real
- The stories about money in golf aren't always about greed - in Robert Macintyre Scotland has a proper champion born of grit and determination and honest values we can all relate to. This is more than winning a huge championship… this has given us all hope 🙌⛳️🏴❤️
🏆 After winning his maiden PGA Tour title with his dad as caddie, Robert MacIntyre spoke of his gratefulness to his parents, who have fostered children for many years.
"I mean, I’ve been in tears over it, kids going away from you. They become family. They have been in a tough spot.
“I wasn’t given everything as a kid. I was given a great opportunity. My dad was obviously a really good sportsman, football, golf, shinty, (but) didn’t have the finances to really chase it, and I think it was something that my mum and dad always wanted to do.
“I’ve got two older sisters who are right into their horses, horse riding and stuff, but they even sacrificed quite a lot of that just to give me a chance.
“I mean, I couldn’t play in golf tournaments as a junior because we couldn’t afford it.
“I think that makes me fight and never give up, I think not being given anything. I mean, they gave me quite a bit. They gave me the opportunity, but never was I spoon fed, I was always fighting for every bit of it.”
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