MacIntyre: “I’m not scared. I’m not going to back away”

Bob MacIntyre speaks to the media following his second round at The Open Championship.

Yeah, 2019. Keep it coming. That was an impressive round scorewise. Was it even more impressive ball goal striking wise in the way you sort of compile on that round? Yeah, it was good. Um I felt like for almost 18 holes today, I’ve done what I done in the front line yesterday. Um I’m comfortable in the golf course. I’m comfortable in what me and Mike are doing. And I just go out there and try and execute. It could have been two or three just I mean the top three putts stayed out. I don’t know how they stayed out. Yeah. Again I feel like even yesterday I felt pretty beautifully actually I think I gained one on the green yesterday but I didn’t feel that but um yeah it I’ve had this before where it’s it’s not going in not going in but it’s about staying patient and just wait on that run when they do start going in. What was that feeling like when that run started on the back nine? I mean how does that kind of feel? start to get excited when that happens. Yeah, it’s good. I I look at leaderboards all the time, so I’m always looking right where am I top leaderboard, bottom leaderboard. I’m always kind of keeping an eye on it, try and work my way through it and just see where the chances are. Um, and yeah, I just I just keep doing try to play aggressively but smart at the same time. Um, couple of good breaks, couple of bad breaks, but I managed to take to get up and down on the par five when I thought I’d hit the perfect golf shot. Um, but yeah, just just a solid day’s work. You’ve always said you’re not scared and and some guys shy away if you’re looking at the boards. Would you almost use that as in right, I need to go now. I need to sort of kick on now or when you see things happen. Yeah, it can also be one of them ones where you’re like, right, I want to stay in touch. Um, and it also helps when not making mistakes cuz you know no one’s running away with this. Um, when I booed 17, I seen that they’d got to eight. When I was coming down 17, I’m like, come on, let’s get one closer. Then I hold that nice P in 17. It’s like, come on. That’s that’s what it’s about. And it just gives you that confidence that you’re you’re within touch. You’re not too far out, but you’re just you’re right there. Often asked about the the threewood in the bag, right? And saying it’s a tailor made a burner. Yeah. 10 year old equipment in there. What is it about a relic of a club to some to some degree that keeps you excited? Yeah, it just I’ve always struggled with three woods ever since I was I was young. Um and I had that and it it worked a treat and I actually thought it had broke in 200 I think it was 2020 at Abu Dhabi. It just wasn’t going the distances. So that’s where I changed that. I stopped using it until last year just before the Dunhiller. Still, I was searching for a 3-wood since 2020 and I went back into the into the cupboard and into the antiques and I hit it a couple of times in my simulator and it was it was doing everything that it used to do when I thought it was broke and everyone else thought it was broke and yeah, it works. Still producing the goods. It works. Compared to 2019, is this a more enjoyable week or how different is it? Yeah, it’s different. It’s not as it doesn’t feel as much pressure. Um or probably change that probably less expectation from myself. Um in 2019 I was nervous, excited, but put a lot of pressure on myself cuz I love the golf course and there was so much going on. First major um but now I feel like this is where I want to be. This is these are the tournaments I want to compete really hard in um come Sundays. And I feel like I’ve the last three majors I’ve I’ve put myself in good position after 36 holes. And I mean, however long my career is going to be, this is this is what I want to do. And until I give it up, I’m going to give it my best shot. And I feel like the team that I’ve got around me um are a massive massive help in that. I trust them with everything, but they trust me with everything. And we just keep the foot down and keep going forward. Well, those feelings that you have and the way you’re playing, you feel like this could be your time this weekend. Yeah, there’s potential. It could be anyone’s time, but I mean, I’m in a good spot. I feel happy, confident, comfortable. Um, so yeah, I’m going to go out there and give it my best shot all the way to Sunday Sunday afternoon and not scared of it anyway. That’s No, I’m not scared. I won’t back away. I mean, if I’ve got a chance coming coming in, it’s completely different to Oakmont. Oakmont, I couldn’t I couldn’t roll the dice. It was never It was never let’s press, let’s press. It was always like, right, let’s go here with pars. whereas this week hopefully come the 69 70th hole I’ve got a chance and if I’ve got a chance we’ll roll it. Yeah. The coach you came at how pleased was it to be where you are halfway stage here? Yeah, it’s brilliant. I’ve just I’ve got so much more confidence and so much more belief that I I am good enough. Um obviously winning in in Europe, winning in America, you’re good enough for that. there’s another little level to it and I’ve obviously managed to finish top 10s and majors before and but I never competed in the PJ championship this year. I was right in the mix. There was a lot going on Saturday, Sunday um and I fell away but I had so much confidence going into that I was at that level now and Oakmont obviously happens which gives you another boost but now I said it to you last year like if it’s not a major championship Scottish Open now I got that I’m like the full focus is on winning majors just talk about the the support you’re getting out there this week compared to 2019 obviously you were a kid back then yeah It’s It’s different. There’s obviously there’s more attention now. There’s But it’s unbelievable. I mean, obviously I’m not too far from home as a crow flies. Um it’s nice. I’ve not actually got that many family and friend out this week. It’s a lot a lot tamer on that side of it. 2019 was really busy. But no, the support the support over here I get is is unbelievable. Best of luck. We’ll see you tomorrow. How did you find playing with Bryson? Yeah, it was good. Um, it was my first time first time playing one. So, um, yeah, it was good to see how he goes about his business. You seem like pretty different characters as golfers. Yeah, I mean, I’m complete I mean, we are we’re two completely different different golfers. I mean, he’s um obviously got his his way of doing it, but to be honest, the game of golf’s going going closer to him now with the science side with the trackman’s um biomechanics, everything. There’s so much more going down uh Bryson’s route. But yeah, I’ll just keep playing golf my way and um put little bits that I see in that whether it’s Bryson, whether it’s Scotty, whether it’s whoever’s better than me, we’ll just try and piece to piece um get better. Thank you.