'There's a chance': Robert MacIntyre aims for Open glory after Scottish Open success

Robert MacIntyre believes he has a chance to follow up his Scottish Open success with victory in The Open this week.

MacIntyre celebrated a dream triumph at the Renaissance Club on Sunday when he became the first Scot to win the Scottish Open in 25 years.

That high-profile win means the spotlight is on the 27-year-old as he prepares for another tournament on home soil, with the world’s best golfers descending on Royal Troon for the 152nd Open Championship.

Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele and Bryson DeChambeau are among the favourites to land the major but when asked if he could secure back-to-back victories and upset the odds this week, MacIntyre said “there’s a chance” if he can hit top form again.

“It’s possible,” he said. “Tomorrow we all start off from level par and I’ve got as much chance as everyone else in the field.

“It’s the same as Thursday last week when I had the same chance as everyone else.

“It’s just about getting into that position for Sunday and seeing how the cards fall. Obviously last week they fell my way.

“My job is to go out there and fight as hard as I can, try my best and hopefully get into a position where I can have a chance.

“That’s all I can ask myself and that’s the only bit of anything that I want is to have a chance.

“If I do my job well enough, hit the shots I see and execute them as well as I can and accept where they end up then there’s a chance.

“It’s all about coming here this week. I’ll put last week behind me quickly. Before I peg it up tomorrow, that will be gone. I’m on to a new week.

“I’m going to give 110%. Hopefully I can perform well and give it my best and I’ll have a chance coming in Sunday.”

The Scot has had a memorable last 12 months, going unbeaten at the Ryder Cup to help Europe to a win, enjoying a first PGA Tour triumph at the Canadian Open and then enjoying the late drama that brought him success at the Renaissance Club last week.

MacIntyre believes that each of those experience has helped with the next and he has slowly built the belief that he can compete and belong with the best in the sport.

“It wasn’t really until I won in Canada that I really felt like I can compete out here fully,” he explained. “I think 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.

“I feel like the Ryder Cup was an eye-opener for me. I realised the majority of those guys, all of them, 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.”

A vocal and passionate home support roared MacIntyre to victory in North Berwick last week and he is sure to have the same backing in Ayrshire, something that he welcomed not only for what it gives him but because it shows the joy his successes can bring to other people.

But while enjoying being a home favourite and local hero, he says that keeping focus, calm and control will be key to his approach this time.

“I’m not going out there trying to win a golf tournament,” MacIntyre said. “The minute I try to win a golf tournament, 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.

“There’s no expectation for myself or from my team around me other than to give 110%. It’s about staying in it and hopefully come Sunday I’ve got a chance. That’s all I want.”