Hot Open Finish Leaves Macintyre Feeling Warm

Bob MacIntyre said he needed a "hot start" astatine Royal Portrush connected Sunday. What he sewage successful nan last information of nan Open Championship was a basking finish.

Ultimately, though, his 67 was only capable for a 10-under par total.

A full that near nan Scot 7 successful arrears of nan peerless Scottie Scheffler and tied for seventh spot by nan clip nan grandstands emptied.

Having been successful a stock of sixth successful his debut awesome quality connected this Northern Irish links successful 2019, MacIntyre leaves this play pinch a marginally worse outcome, but emotion for illustration he's "streets ahead" of wherever he was moreover this clip past year.

"I cognize I've sewage nan game," nan 28-year-old said, having added different top-10 present to his runner-up decorativeness astatine June's US Open. "I consciousness for illustration it's a matter of time, if I conscionable support piecing it each together.

"It's been a awesome capacity and a bully result. But it's different reassurance that I'm successful nan correct place."

MacIntyre had said each week he would person a correct bully spell astatine it should he beryllium successful nan operation connected nan last 9 holes of nan tournament.

Four birdies successful his last 7 holes made bully connected that vow, moreover if nan circumstances were not what he had dreamed they mightiness beryllium arsenic Sunday unfurled connected what he declared to beryllium his favourite people connected nan Open rota.

The Scot picked up a changeable connected nan 2nd aft a agelong eagle putt halted seductively short of nan hole, but handed backmost that inaugural connected four.

"Stupit" was his sadistic appraisal of that bogey, which efficaciously ended his slender hopes of making a tally astatine Scheffler and nan remainder of nan pack.

Another birdie, this clip astatine seven, was returned to nan people 3 holes later, earlier MacIntyre recovered that spot of power he was looking for.

Both 12 and 14 brought birdies - nan second erstwhile a debased spot skittered each nan measurement into nan cup - and catapulted him backmost to nan precocious reaches of nan leaderboard.

Further reddish numbers came astatine 15 and 17, earlier he rounded disconnected his play pinch par connected nan past amid a lukewarm reception from nan grandstands.

"I conscionable had to support saying to myself, 'stay patient, there's a bully decorativeness location if you tin enactment calm'," MacIntyre said.

"There's definite holes this week that were vital, and I played them poorly. But I'm finishing apical 10 successful a awesome and being disappointment pinch definite parts of my game.

"Things are good, and I've conscionable sewage to hold my turn."