Scot will probably be out in one of many marquee teams in the opening two rounds at Augusta National
Bob MacIntyre has been paired with world No 1 Scottie Scheffler in one of many marquee teams for the opening two rounds of the 90th Masters at Augusta National.
The dream draw for MacIntyre, the only real Scot in the 91-man discipline, in simply his fourth look in the Green Jacket occasion is recognition for his new elevated status in the sport.
The Oban man completed runner-up in final 12 months’s US Open at Oakmont earlier than additionally producing a top-ten effort in The Open at Royal Portrush the next month.
He is heading into this week’s occasion because the world No 8, having completed fourth in The Players Championship and joint-second in the Valero Texas Open in his final two outings.
Both 29, MacIntyre and Scheffler performed on reverse groups in the 2017 Walker Cup at Los Angeles Country Club.
They have been paired collectively for the opening two rounds in final 12 months’s Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club earlier than then going head-to-head just a few weeks later in the ultimate spherical of the BMW Championship, one of many PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Play-Off occasions.
In a bunch that additionally contains latest Houston Open winner Gary Woodland, MacIntyre and Scheffler will tee off in the penultimate group in the primary spherical on Thursday at 6.44pm earlier than heading out in the second circuit on Friday at 3.19pm UK time.
Speaking earlier than the tee instances have been introduced, MacIntyre stated he now feels snug taking part in with the likes of Scheffler, who gained for the primary time right here in 2022 earlier than repeating the feat two years later and now being the present Open champion.
“There’s no golf tournament in the world that I haven’t played in now or a playing partner I look at and go ‘I’m uncomfortable playing with him’,” he insisted. “It’s now just a case of going out to try and do your thing, execute the shots and try and win golf tournaments.”
MacIntyre completed fourth in The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass final month earlier than sharing second spot in the Valero Texas Open on Sunday after holding a four-shot lead on the midway stage in San Antonio.
“I played decent,” he mirrored on that efficiency. “Yeah, I didn’t get over the line and there were a few mistakes, including not birdieing the second from the position I was in, bogeying 11 from the position I was in and not birdieing 14 from the position there. All that was disappointing, but I eagled 17 to give myself a chance.
“It is hard to win golf tournaments. I shot two under for the last round in tough conditions. J.J. Spaun’s score tied the lowest score of the day. You need little things like that to happen. He’d gone 2-2 at 16 and 17 before parring the last. Second place isn’t bad and I’m in good form coming into this week.”
