ROBERT MacINTYRE credited some "stupid stuff" on a trip home for his resurgence in form as the Scot stormed into contention at the PGA Championship.
The Oban ace carded a sublime five-under-par 66 in his opening round at Valhalla to sit just four shots off the early pace set by red-hot American Xander Schauffele.
And Rory McIlroy escaped his off-course turmoil to match his Ryder Cup teammate's 66.
MacIntyre has struggled to come to terms with the different environment on the other side of the Atlantic.
However, after enjoying some time back at home in April, he finished just outside the top 10 in the Myrtle Beach Classic last week and carried on where he left off in Kentucky with a bogey-free first round.
The left-hander said: "It's no secret I've been living in America and its been tough.
It's not like Oban.
"When I go back home, it's a lot of friends and family you get to spend time with, my nieces, everyone that's close to me and really cares for me.
"When I'm in America, it's just me and my girlfriend and we're trying to live as good a life as we can. But it's difficult when we're both so close to family and friends.
This story is from the May 17, 2024 edition of Daily Record.
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This story is from the May 17, 2024 edition of Daily Record.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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