Robert MacIntyre admits ‘wild’ celebrations after Scottish Open win but money won’t change mentality | Golf News
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Robert MacIntyre admits he went “absolutely wild” after winning the Scottish Open last weekend but is now fully focused on success at Royal Troon.
The Scot fulfilled a long-held ambition at the Renaissance Club on Sunday when he triumphed in his home championship after a remarkable finish.
The 27-year-old from Oban celebrated long into the night and expects to do so again as he revisits his victory in the future, but his thoughts are now completely on this week’s Open in Ayrshire.
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MacIntyre said: “I’m not a big drinker, but when you get moments like that that’s a childhood dream and a lifetime goal, and you’ve got family and friends there that have backed you since you were a young kid, I think it was quite right to go absolutely wild. I think we did a good job of that.
“After this week’s over, I’ll sit back, sit down with my team, and we’ll reflect on it and probably celebrate again because, again, it was a lifetime goal of mine.
When does MacIntyre tee off?
Robert MacIntyre tees off at 9.36am on Thursday with Ryder Cup team-mates Jon Rahm and Tommy Fleetwood.
“But 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 per cent. Hopefully, I can perform well and give it my best and I’ll have a chance coming in Sunday.”
‘Ryder Cup was an eye-opener’
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It has already been a fine summer for MacIntyre, who claimed his first PGA Tour title at the Canadian Open last month.
The left-hander’s career has progressed since he narrowly missed out to Rory McIlroy at last year’s Scottish Open and then went on to make his Ryder Cup debut in Rome last autumn.
He said: “It wasn’t really until I won in Canada that I really felt like I can compete out here fully. 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.”
‘I’m not trying to win’
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MacIntyre feels the secret to success is not thinking about the end goal.
He said: “I’m not going out there trying to win a golf tournament. 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 per cent. It’s about staying in it and hopefully come Sunday I’ve got a chance. That’s all I want.”
‘Money won’t change me’
MacIntyre insists he will stay grounded despite the success he has been having.
“Money’s not going to change me. I’m not going to go and do anything daft or buy anything flash because if you do that, someone will drag you down properly. But it’s great to obviously get the financial gain and be able to do certain things.
“No, I’m a big believer everything happens for a reason. A lot’s gone on in my family in the last little while, everything that’s gone on at home. Again, family’s everything. If I can help family and close friends, that’s what I’ll do.
“I’m out here doing my job, and I’m lucky it pays really well. It’s part and parcel of the sport. Yeah, just try and enjoy myself as much as I can and help the people around me.”
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