Long day, short temper, but MacIntyre does level best

BBC News

2 days ago

Six hours is a long time to spend on a golf course. Too long, according to Bob MacIntyre. It was just shy of nine at night by the time the Scot stopped to unpick his level-par first round at this Open Championship - and he was burst and wanting up the road.The swearing that soundtracked his stomp up the 15th had given way to weariness; little wonder given the wave of emotions he rode at Royal Portrush on Thursday.Waiting until the middle of the afternoon to begin your first round - as MacIntyre did - must fray the edges of the nerves as well as patience. So, too, must the swollen galleries at each hole of this natural ampitheatre on the Antrim coast, even if they were primarily just getting themselves into position to see Rory McIlroy come through a couple of groups later.MacIntyre, though, cut an unflustered figure in the company of major champions Justin Rose and Bryson DeChambeau. Having come so close at last month's US Open, this is now his crucible.
"Got off to the perfect start, didn't I? Three-under early doors, playing beautifully," was the 28-year-old's take on his first eight holes.He was right. A seven-foot birdie putt on the par-3 third was followed by further sub-par scores on seven and eight after two delightful approach shots to five feet.MacIntyre gave the course back those two shots in the next two holes after "a couple of awkward tee shots, a couple of awkward approach shots". That measured assessment was in vivid contrast to the ferocity that was to come. "Wow. Wow," was his reaction after birdie putt on 13 stayed above ground before his scorecard holder took a sharp slap after bogey on 14 returned him to level. He was still fulminating to his caddie as he barrelled up 15 - punctuating his grievance with all the good swears - then made to snap a club over his knee after spraying his second off to the right and leaving a chip 10 feet short of the hole."Just so bad," he groused, far more profanely than the BBC censors would allow. At this stage, MacIntyre looked like he could well set fire to the entirely of Portrush with his fury, never mind his chances of contending this week.Then, a slap of an iron on the 16th ripped to 12 feet and the anger dissipated. He and Rose blethered their way up to the green and, even though the wind played havoc with his birdie putt, the Scot had found his shape again.Pars up 17 and 18 ensured he would be no more than four back, despite his travails."I thought I managed to keep a lid on it fairly well," MacIntyre said, admirably keeping a straight face. "There were a couple of swears out there, but it's difficult. "When you get off to the start I got off to, you're thinking you should be three or four under, but level par's a solid day. "The way I was scrambling with the last four holes, I would have have taken that." As well as leaving him well in the mix, it was also enough to ensure MacIntyre ended the day as the leading Scot.Amateurs Connor Graham and Cameron Adam both made their way round in 73, while Daniel Young was two worse off.