Robert MacIntyre gives fitness update ahead of US PGA

Robert MacIntyre says back pain that forced him to withdraw from last week’s Italian Open is “far better” after physio work.

The Scot was forced to withdraw from his title defence last week at Marco Simone, but says he is now good to go for next week’s US PGA Championship.

The Oban-native will travel to Oak Hill for his first major of the year, after missing the Masters.

“I’ll be good to go next week,” said MacIntyre. “I’ve seen the right people and am doing the right things. So I’ll get on with it.

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“Next week is going to be really important. If you have a good week, it’s a big push in the right direction. I’ve not seen anything of the golf course, I don’t know it, but I try to keep it simple. Good golf takes care of it.

“I’m much better placed now. Big time. It feels like it’s been a while since I played a major, to be honest. But I’ve got a decent track record in them.”

The Scot feels his form has been up and down but is anticipating it will all come together soon.

“It’s not been my best, not been my worst, but it’s been solid, no real mistakes.

“I feel like, at some point, I’m going to have a good start – and be there competing come Sunday.”

MacInyre, speaking at the media day for the Genesis Scottish Open, said last week’s withdrawal was a difficult decision, as he felt he might have been able to push through the pain.

“I managed to get out in the first round feeling good. Tried to hit a tee shot hard down nine and felt it going. I kind of tried to manage my way round after that, but I struggled late on in the first round.

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“I then almost didn’t have enough time between rounds. When I woke up on Friday morning, I was like, ‘this ain’t good’. I went into the physio room for about an hour then went out and tried to warm up but the speed was that far down. It wasn’t good enough to go out and play.

“The guys in the physio truck were absolutely brilliant. They’d said it wasn’t going to do any long term damage trying to push through it. It was just a case of how much pain I could take.

“I could get through it with an iron, but when I am trying to hit a driver, I’m full tilt and the way I move the back wasn’t allowing me to tilt. I could have played with an iron, but it was too long a golf course to hit something soft.”

Lewis Fraser As bunkered’s Performance Editor, Lewis oversees the content that’s designed to make you a better player. From the latest gear to tuition, nutrition, strategy and more, he’s the man. A graduate of the University of Stirling, Lewis joined bunkered in 2021. Formerly a caddie at Castle Stuart Golf Links, he is a member of Bathgate Golf Club where he plays off four.

Performance Editor