Robert MacIntyre sends defiant message after US Open agony

Robert MacIntyre says he is now ready to make his major breakthrough after being denied a sensational US Open win.

In an interview with The Scotsman, MacIntyre stressed: “I just want to win majors now.”

The Oban man’s final round 68 in brutal conditions appeared at least enough for a playoff as he posted a fine clubhouse target during an epic finale at Oakmont Country Club.

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But the inspired JJ Spaun then bounced back from five bogeys in his opening six holes by conjuring an unthinkable birdie-birdie finish to snatch the trophy from MacIntyre’s grasp.

MacIntyre could only applaud Spaun as he watched the denouement from the recording area, shouting “wow” his rival drained a 65-footer at the last when a three-putt would have moved the Scot into sudden death with the Californian.

“That’s the toughest test I’ve ever encountered on a golf course,” MacIntyre said afterwards. “That’s as hard as it gets. Obviously finishing sixth in The Open at Royal Portrush (in 2019) was my best finish, but it was a back-door effort, so to speak, due to the weather and stuff.

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“But this was different. There’s no reason why I can’t win a major championship in my career and that’s my goal now. I said I wanted to win the Scottish Open and I got that. I thought I had this one, to be honest with you, but, yeah, I just want to win majors now.

“If I’d won this one it was going to be unbelievable – it would have been something special. But to see a guy hole a putt like that to win after his heartbreak in The Players, I take my hat off to him – fair play!”

While MacIntyre picked up a $2.3million cheque for finishing runner-up, he has also surged inside the automatic places for Luke Donald’s Ryder Cup team.

With a defence of his cottish Open title and The Open at Royal Portrush to come before that titanic match at Bethpage Black come September, there is so much for MacIntyre fans to look forward to.

“As far as the Ryder Cup is concerned, that’s where I want to be,” he added. “I want to play every Ryder Cup from now until the day I retire and this is a massive step for that to happen this year.”

Ben Parsons is the Senior Writer at bunkered and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.