What's not to love about Bob MacIntyre? In among the millions of pounds currently being thrown around the game, we have a 26-year-old two-time winner whose grasp of life's fundamentals remains very much intact. MacIntyre possesses the rare quality of having a particularly sound handle on all matters - what's right and what's clearly wrong - and he's not afraid to speak up for what he believes in when the need arises.
Other pros might trot out the usual cliches, but MacIntyre will tell it like it is. If you're looking for a dictionary definition for 'golfer who is grounded', the Scot would offer a very good starting point.
Every time a player turns up late to an interview or cancels at the last minute, my mind quickly moves to Macintyre. At the start of his rookie season in 2019, on what was then the European Tour, he was finishing off a practice round in Abu Dhabi on the Monday night and my day was coming to a close, idly watching how players were playing the par-5 18th as the sun was about to quickly set.
We had made a loose arrangement to meet on the verandah of the iconic clubhouse at 10am the next day, which, according to general tour etiquette, would be rated a 50/50 chance of seeing him again that week. My 9am meet-up, who was staying on site just a regular 7-iron from the clubhouse, had slept through, but Macintyre was there ten minutes early.
Over the course of the next half hour, he talked about his hometown of Oban, shinty, Glencruitten Golf Club and its par of 62, how his mum and dad had become foster parents, the TaylorMade Aeroburner 3-wood he'd been using since he was 17 and how he still drove his mum's Chevrolet Spark, which barely accommodated his golf clubs. Down to earth doesn't even come close to doing it justice.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Is it Time for the Presidents Cup to Be Scrapped? - The next instalment of the USA v Internationals match takes place in Canada at the end of September. But should the one-sided affair continue?
The next instalment of the USA v Internationals match takes place in Canada at the end of September. But should the one-sided affair continue? Why would anyone even suggest such a drastic course of action? It may sound harsh, but since the inaugural event in 1994, the International team has managed just one victory and one tie while the American team has won 12 times, including nine straight from 2005. It is 26 years since the International team's solitary success in 1998 at Royal Melbourne under the captaincy of the late Peter Thomson.
Surprise packages
Jeremy Ellwood looks back on some of the more unusual golfing countries he has visited during his 20+ years writing for Golf Monthly
TAKE YOUR IRON GAME TO THE NEXT LEVEL
The key to good iron play is finding the right low point in your swing. Here's how to do it...
How to organise the perfect golf day
Golf Monthly's guide to arranging and running a memorable and successful event
A LEGEND
Michael Weston makes a pilgrimage to Pedrena in Spain to visit Seve's family home and talk about his life and legacy with his children
"THESE ARE THE MOMENTS I LIVE FOR"
Alison Root sits down for a chat with Anna Nordqvist, the three-time Major Champion and first playing assistant captain in Solheim Cup history
SCALING NEW HEIGHTS
The Solheim Cup seems to grow in significance and excitement with every staging, and this year's encounter in Virginia promises to be no exception...
STOKE PARK
I never expected to write about Stoke Park again after its closure in 2021, but it seems reports of its death have been greatly exaggerated.
PEAK AT THE OF HIS POWERS
Scottie Scheffler is a remarkable golfer who is well on his way to becoming an all-time great. Michael Weston analyses his accomplishments and explores his life to date...
TaylorMade P7CB and P770 irons from £179 per club
Adding to an extremely strong 2024 product line-up, TaylorMade has launched its latest irons in the successful P-Series - the P7CB and the P770.