Robert MacIntyre takes positives after “disastrous” final round

By his own admission, Robert MacIntyre’s final competitive round of 2020 was “disastrous” – but he’s determined not to let it sour an otherwise excellent season.  

The Oban man started the final round of the DP World Tour Championship a shot outside the lead and in with an outside chance of winning the Race To Dubai.

However, a bogey-bogey start set the tone for the final day, MacIntyre eventually signing for a five-over 77 to finish in a tie for 23rd as Matt Fitzpatrick won his sixth European Tour title and Lee Westwood claimed the Race To Dubai for the third time. 

It was a tough day at the office for the 24-year-old but, on balance, a season in which he took yet more big strides in his still-fledgling pro career.

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“Obviously disappointed with the round, but as [caddie] Mike [Thomson] said coming down the last, we’ve got to take all the positives,” said MacIntyre. “I mean, from where I was about eight weeks ago, we weren’t in a good place on the golf course. We weren’t in a good place mentally. We weren’t in a good place, just all over the place.

“We sorted on the golf course, we sorted the mind and here we are at the final event. I didn’t think I would be here if I’m honest with you, after everything that’s gone on, but no, I’m delighted with the season. Obviously disappointed with today, but you get days like that.”

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The Glencruitten man had former Masters champion Patrick Reed for company in the penultimate group and said that he learned a lot from watching the way the American went about his business.

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“You’re trying to fight to win a golf tournament and you finish, I don’t even know where I finished, disastrous, but again, I have to go away from this and learn. I mean, I’ve played with someone that’s an absolute magician around the greens, and that shows if his game’s not there, he still gets it around. I know I need to work to get to that level.

“But we go away from here, have a few weeks off with the family and yeah, come back out in Abu Dhabi raring to go.”