Robert MacIntyre embraces chance to play alongside dad Dougie at Dunhill Links Championship

Robert MacIntyre says he’s looking forward to playing alongside his dad at the Dunhill Links Championship in Fife this week.

The pair famously teamed up earlier this year with dad Dougie caddying for Robert as he won his maiden PGA Tour title at the Canadian Open but this week they’ll both be hitting balls to win.

After practice at St Andrew’s, MacIntyre says his dad has gotten into the swing of things and will be looking forward to an active role rather than watching his son compete.

“Yesterday, we played ten holes on the Old Course, and he was absolutely brilliant,” Robert said. “First tee, he was still a wee bit nervy, but after that, he was back to himself.

“I think he’s going to enjoy it more inside the ropes than outside the ropes watching me, to be honest with you.

“He’s got something to take his mind off of watching me hit some stupid shots.”

MacIntyre has added the Scottish Open title to his Canadian Open win and is well established on the tour, as well as having played on a winning Ryder Cup team.

Though he’s gone on to become a major professional, the 28-year-old says his schooling in the sport came from his dad, and that a similar style will be evident to spectators this week.

“He’s the reason I play the way I play,” he said. “If you watch the two of us swing, obviously I’ve made some changes to my golf swing but it’s very, very similar and he’s the guy that’s really taught me how to play the game golf and it’s just going to be special.

The Dunhill Links holds a special place for the MacIntyres and for Robert, playing in it as an amateur was an important step in his development. Now, he hopes it can deliver another special memory for his family.

“This was the first professional event I played and obviously I was the amateur playing with the pro and he caddied for me,” he said. “It’s just little things like that that make this week more special.

“It was the first time I realised that I could play professional golf. That my golf game was somewhat suited to professional golf, the way I played, the ball flight, and that’s when I realised that I think I can do it. This week is a special occasion, playing with my dad but also coming back here.

“Obviously, winning in Canada with him on the bag is going to be a memory that’s just hard to beat.

“I just think when you actually move back from the game of golf and go back to Oban and why I do certain things, it’s to see family and obviously my family will come down later in the week, it’s going to be cool. It’s going to be nice.”