'It was terrible': Robert MacIntyre keen to put Open ordeal ‘straight in the bin’

Robert MacIntyre was glad to see the back of Royal Troon after signing off from a “terrible” week at the Open with a three-over-par 74 on Sunday.

The 27-year-old from Oban failed to reproduce the heroics that saw him win the Scottish Open last week over four trying days in Ayrshire, finishing on nine over.

MacIntyre said: “To be brutally honest, it was terrible. I won’t be back here in a hurry.

“This week, to be honest, it’s just going straight in the bin. Last week is the one that we’ll reflect on because there’s no real point reflecting on this one when it’s been absolute carnage from start to finish.

“The preparation wasn’t the best, obviously, coming off last week but we’ll sit back and look to see where we can keep improving and just keep moving forward.”

MacIntyre’s arrival at the Open was delayed after he celebrated long into the night following his triumph at the Renaissance Club last weekend.

He said: “Physically I’m fine but mentally I’m gone. Sunday night probably took a lot out of me, but it was worth it. You’ve got to celebrate the special ones. That was outrageous.”

If there was any consolation for MacIntyre from his week at Troon, it was the opportunity to play alongside six-time major winner Phil Mickelson, his fellow left-hander and childhood inspiration, on Sunday.

He said: “It was great to get to play with an idol, someone that you’ve shaped your golf game around. It was cool to walk the fairways with him and get chatting to him.”