Scottish champion Robert MacIntyre hails ‘almost perfect’ first round at Open

Robert MacIntyre described his performance on day one of The Open in Troon as “close to perfect” despite struggling on the green in windy conditions.

The Scot came into the event on a high after his triumph at last week’s Scottish Open but had to settle for a one-over-par 72.

The 27-year-old, who delayed his arrival at Troon after celebrating into the night following Sunday’s win at the Renaissance Club, said: “I thought it was almost perfect, other than the putter not turning up, but the tee to green was absolutely superb, especially that front nine, with the wind in out of the right. It wasn’t comfortable at all.

“We’ve got the clubs to do that, we’re between a three-iron and we rescued it today and on the range hitting both of them and we decided to go for the rescue because it allowed us more of a turn back into the wind and I thought it was close to perfect as a round of golf.

“It’s tough with the wind, I think a lot of guys had game plans just to driver the first few holes and they’ve pitched up there today and it’s just straight back into the wind and it kind of switches you to back into fighting and it’s difficult.

“I’m now hoping it doesn’t die off later on.

“I thought I played absolutely superb and had loads of chances inside that 12-foot range, didn’t hole on the day but I gave myself good chances and thought I rolled them well but they just went the opposite way and that’s Troon, it’s very subtle and old school wind golf, the greens are very flat, when you are hitting a putt the ball will move in the wind.

“The support was incredible, I walked on to a lot of tees, a lot of greens and loud cheers and I can’t people enough, obviously what I done last week was massive for that but I keep saying the support I have had since first coming on the European tour in 2019 has been incredible.

“It’s just about getting my chance going into Sunday.

“You can’t win it today, can’t win it on Friday and can’t win it on Saturday, but you can play yourself out of it.

“I thought a one-over-par score was a good round of golf, and we’re still in it.

“Obviously the prep wasn’t great, but that’s by the by. I thought we prepared well Tuesday, Wednesday and, with the conditions out there, and the way I’m swinging the golf club and moving the ball in the air, fighting the winds, it was close to perfect.”