Bob MacIntyre handed huge Open billing by seven-time Tour winner and Ryder Cup hero
Scottish star ranked amongst the favourites for Portrush as he hunts first Major win
Major hunter Bob MacIntyre has been billed as one of the biggest favourites for Open glory by Ryder Cup hero David Howell.
The Scottish star will head for Royal Portrush next month for the 153rd Championship full of belief after his outstanding run at the US Open.
MacIntyre secured a best-ever finish at Major when coming up just short behind winner JJ Spaun on a thriller final day at Oakmont.
That dynamic display has merely fuelled the 28-year-old's drive and determination to go one better at one of the big-four events with the upcoming spectacular Northern Ireland his next opportunity.
MacIntyre has already shown his outstanding ability on Open terrain with a tied-eighth finish behind Collin Morikawa at Royal St George's four years ago.
Prior to that, he crucially performed expertly at Portrush in 2019 when charging into a tied-sixth position on his Claret Jug debut as Shane Lowry won on home soil.
Howell, who played and won in both of his Ryder Cup appearances in 2004 at Oakland Hills and 2006 at the K Club, has no doubts that, although World No.1 has to be considered the favourite for the title, MacIntyre is bang up there amongst the leading contenders.
The Englishman is a popular figure to viewers on the commentary team of Sky's golf coverage and, when colleague Nick Dougherty suggested during the third-round coverage of the Travelers Championship that the Scot would be 'licking his chops' for the assault on Portrush, he had no hesitation in nominating him as a big threat.
Howell said: 'He will and he will have to handle being one of the favourites. Yes [Scottie] Scheffler is going to be the favourite for that Championship, of course.
"But he is made for links golf, Bob MacIntyre. And he has proved to himself last week that he can win a Major because, when he had the chance, he did everything right. So he'll have his own expectations to deal with, but surely we'll have a good performance from him.'
MacIntyre made it clear in the immediate aftermath of Oakmont that he isn't shying away from the Major challenge and admitted it has handed additional belief as he said: 'Aye, it does. That's the toughest test I've ever encountered on a golf course. That's as hard as it gets.
'Obviously finishing sixth in The Open at Royal Portrush was my best finish but it was a back-door effort, so to speak, due to the weather and stuff.
'But this was different. There's no reason why I can't win a major championship in my career and that's my goal now. I said I wanted to win the Scottish Open and I got that. I thought I had this one, to be honest with you, but, yeah, I just want to win Majors now.'
Before Portrush, MacIntyre will return from a seven-week run in the United States ater his final round at the Travelers to have a short and well-earned break before he returns to action at the Genesis Scottish Open.
The Tartan hero will be defending his crown at The Renaissance Club having produced a magnificent win in East Lothian almost 12 months ago.
MacIntyre will the go straight from the showpiece Scottish event to Portrush and the bid for Open success with the FedEx Cup play-offs and an appearance for Europe at The Ryder Cup at Bethpage in September also now firmly on his immediate hitlist.
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