MacIntyre relaxed after 'wild' Scottish celebrations

MacIntyre won the Scottish Open with a birdie on the last hole at the Renaissance Club

Venue: Royal Troon Dates: Thu 18-Sun 21 July

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Ten days ago, Robert MacIntyre was talking about wanting to "lower the noise" around his chances of winning the Scottish Open and The Open.

And then he went and realised "a childhood dream" by winning his national championship - the first Scot to do so since Colin Montgomerie in 1999.

He let out a thunderous roar as his 20-foot putt crept into the hole last Sunday before embarking on "absolutely wild" celebrations that delayed his journey from east to west Scotland for this week's 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon.

"I'm not a big drinker, but when you get moments like that, and you've got family and friends there that have backed you since you were a young kid, it was quite right to go absolutely wild," said the 27-year-old.

"We did a good job of that.

"After this week's over, I'll sit down with my team and we'll reflect on it and probably celebrate again because it was a lifetime goal."

'Ryder Cup was an eye-opener'

The celebrations will be even more raucous should MacIntyre go back-to-back this week and there is every reason to think he will challenge on the Ayrshire coast.

He comes into the event as one of the world's in-form players, having climbed to 16th in the rankings as a result of winning his first PGA Tour event at the Canadian Open in June and following it with last week's success.

"It wasn't until I won in Canada that I really felt like I could compete out here fully," he said.

"It's just an attitude thing. You're not given anything out here, you've got to earn it. You've got to earn the respect of the guys you've looked up to for many years."

This past six weeks has capped a fine 12 months since he shot a 64 to finish one stroke behind winner Rory McIlroy at last year's Scottish Open.

He qualified for the European Ryder Cup team and was unbeaten in three matches in a comprehensive victory over the Americans in Rome before going on to secure one of 10 PGA Tour cards handed out to the DP World Tour's best players.

"The Ryder Cup was an eye-opener for me," he said.

"I realised those guys are just normal guys. It wasn't until probably then I realised: You know what? If these guys can do it, I can do it."

MacIntyre moved to the US at the start of the year but after a well-documented indifferent start to life in Florida and on the PGA Tour, where he missed three of his first four cuts, he has opted to return to living in Scotland.

"This year was a trial run to see if I enjoyed living in America. It wasn't just about me, it was about both us," he said, referring to his girlfriend Shannon Hartley.

"I'll still play on the PGA Tour. Nothing's changing other than I'm not paying a whole lot of rent on a house I maybe spent four or five weeks in since January. To me, it's absolute madness."

'I'm not trying to win a golf tournament'

An expected crowd of 250,000 spectators will descend on Troon this week, the vast majority of them pulling for the man from two hours up the coast in Oban, who said it's "brilliant to know so many people are backing and supporting you and great to know that you're bringing so much joy to other people".

However, the left-hander has "zero expectations for the week".

"I'm not going out there trying to win a golf tournament," he added.

"If you bogey the first, you're thinking the golf tournament is getting further away from you.

"The minute you think that, your emotions are all over the place. You lose all control of yourself. You lose thought process, touch, everything."

Not only is it 25 years since Montgomerie won the Scottish Open, it is also a quarter of a century since a Scot last won the Claret Jug, with Paul Lawrie's triumph at Carnoustie. Does Bob, as he's more affectionately known, believe in omens?

"It's possible," he said. "We all start off from level par and I've got as much chance as everyone else in the field.

"It's just about getting in that position on Sunday and seeing where the cards fall. Hopefully I'll have a chance. That's all I want."