Will Us Open Near Miss Help Macintyre's Major Hunt?

For 42 faintly ridiculous minutes successful nan early hours of Monday greeting - Oban clip - Bob MacIntyre looked for illustration he mightiness go a awesome champion.

That was nan span betwixt his improbable emergence arsenic co-leader of a sodden US Open and JJ Spaun holing an astonishing putt to contradict nan Scot a play-off.

Sitting successful nan clubhouse, drookit, MacIntyre gawped astatine nan TV screen, clattered his macerated hands together successful applause, and mouthed 'wow' arsenic his dream died.

"I thought I had this one, to beryllium honest," nan 28-year-old admitted, a mates of hours later, arsenic he said to nan Scottish media from nan backmost of a car leaving nan course.

He was not nan only one.

While those down him connected nan people were, one-by-one, being washed distant astatine a soggy Oakmont, MacIntyre was nan 1 keeping his caput supra h2o amid what he described arsenic "the toughest trial I've ever encountered".

Birdie connected 14 had returned him to level par for nan time and 2 complete successful total. Having started nan time 7 back, he was now tied for nan lead.

Sam Burns and Adam Scott had frittered distant their overnight advantage. Viktor Hovland, Tyrrell Hatton and Carlos Ortiz were treading water, virtually and figuratively.

Spaun - down MacIntyre connected nan people - was nan only different subordinate heading successful nan correct guidance aft reaching nan move successful a wretched 40.

Ultimately, nan American reached nan 18th tee knowing a par would beryllium enough. Bogey would time off him successful a play-off pinch nan Scot. His ludicrous birdie took distant those doubts.

What nan events of nan past week aliases truthful successful Pennsylvania mightiness besides person taken distant are questions complete MacIntyre's spot successful astatine nan acme of nan game.

He mightiness person started nan season's 3rd awesome 20th successful nan world rankings, but fewer extracurricular his homeland readily reached for his sanction among their lists of contenders.

His grounds successful nan game's biggest events trends much towards coagulated than spectacular.

Tied 12th successful nan 2021 Masters. Tied eighth successful nan PGA past year. Tied sixth successful nan 2019 Open. All impressive, but nary were realistic runs astatine nan large prize.

It mirrors his shape this play connected nan PGA Tour. Only 2 missed cuts but only 3 apical 10s aft 2 breakthrough victories past season.

But what happened astatine Oakmont was different.

MacIntyre was nan only subordinate from nan overnight top-10 to break par successful nan last round. His two-under 68 was 1 of nan champion rounds he will apt ever motion for fixed nan conditions, 90-minute mid-round upwind delay, and what was astatine stake.

While others were diminished, he seemed to grow.

"My erstwhile rain-delay comebacks haven't been strong," MacIntyre said. "But coming was nan time I said to myself, 'why not, why shouldn't it beryllium me?'.

"I've put a batch of activity into this - it's not conscionable luck. I conscionable had to spot myself."

That spot took him wrong a mates of putts of becoming Scotland's first awesome victor since Paul Lawrie astatine nan equally-sodden 1999 Open.

It besides put different $2,322,000 into his increasingly-bulging pockets and hoisted him up to 12th successful nan world arsenic good arsenic 4th successful nan European Ryder Cup standings.

He is owed to play again this week astatine nan Travelers Championship successful Connecticut earlier heading location to Oban aft 11 weeks connected nan roadworthy anterior to nan defence of his Scottish Open title adjacent month.

The week aft that, it's The Open astatine Royal Portrush and different chance to flex his awesome muscles astatine a venue wherever he was successful amongst it six years ago.

"It's what I dreamed of arsenic a kid, sitting successful Oban, watching each nan majors," MacIntyre said. "And there's nary logic why I can't triumph 1 and that's my extremity now."

Born and bred successful Oban, MacIntyre has lived connected a play people for overmuch of his life.

His chamber astatine nan family location looks connected to nan 12th greenish astatine Glencruitten Golf Club, wherever his begetter Dougie useful arsenic greenkeeper.

His mother Carol, without mobility his biggest fan, regularly travels to America to guarantee he gets immoderate location cooking. And sisters Gillian and Nicola gave up plentifulness of clip and opportunities during their ain teenage years to support their brother.

More recently, his woman Shannon has been by MacIntyre's broadside arsenic he travelled astir nan world pursuing his 2nd favourite sport.

Shinty is his first love, and was a regular pinch Oban Celtic until he reluctantly had to bent up his Caman lest an wounded derailed his golf.

After a successful amateur career, during which he won nan Scottish Boys Open, Scottish Championship and Scottish Amateur titles and represented GB&I successful nan 2017 Walker Cup, MacIntyre made nan leap into nan master ranks.

In his first play connected nan European Tour, he won nan Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of nan Year title. And wins successful Cyprus and Italy followed earlier his triumph astatine nan Canadian Open past twelvemonth - pinch his dada Dougie connected nan container - put his sanction successful lights.

That was quickly followed by his Scottish Open triumph, MacIntyre becoming nan first home-based subordinate to triumph title since Colin Montgomerie successful 1999.

Add successful being an unbeaten rookie successful Luke Donald's European Ryder Cup squad successful Rome 2 years ago, and his CV is enviable.

Yet erstwhile you speak to him, he remains nan humble young man I first met astir 14 years agone astatine a kindness arena astatine Kingsfield successful West Lothian.

Generous pinch his time, he ever makes a constituent of stepping down nan statement of nan youngsters waiting for an autograph aft each round, bully aliases bad, remembering astatine 1 constituent he was successful that statement arsenic "a wee boy from Oban".