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There was almost no Robert MacIntyre in the Tour Championship lineup this week.
The Oban man was forced to withdraw from last week’s FedEx Cup event and a lower left back injury almost proved costly again.
Speaking to Sky Sports after an opening round 69, MacIntyre heaped praise on his team for turning things around.
“It’s a lower left back injury, being left-handed,” he said.
“[But] I’m just happy to be out playing. Just a great job from my team, I didn’t think I’d be pitching up this week.”
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MacIntyre is making his debut in the Tour’s mega bucks finale at East Lake, where the winner will walk away with $25 million.
The 28-year-old started the week in a tie for 16th and despite a two-under-par opener, MacIntyre slipped four places down the leaderboard.
He flew out Fife-based physio Stuart Barton to the US in a bid to return fit this week and so far, so good.
Although MacIntyre did admit to “struggling a little bit off the tee,” he insisted his putter is working and that he can “roll that ball.”
The Tour Championship is the last event of the regular PGA Tour season, but MacIntyre will soon head back to Europe to continue his hectic schedule.
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Assessing his rookie year on the other side of the Atlantic, he said the ‘wild’ ride has been worth it.
“For me, my job was to keep my tour card to get to pick up a full schedule, whereas this year was kind of a bit wild,” MacIntyre said.
“We were planning on going home for a stretch and then we’d get into an event, and you’d have to go and play.
“It was difficult that side of it and it was mentally tiring, but it’s worth it all the way. Obviously the two wins have been huge for me to get here.
“Did I think I could get the two wins? I believed I could. You never really think it’s going to happen that quickly, but you’ve just got to keep riding that wave.”
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