Long Day, Short Temper, But Macintyre Does Level Best

Six hours is simply a agelong clip to walk connected a play course. Too long, according to Bob MacIntyre.

It was conscionable awkward of 9 astatine nighttime by nan clip nan Scot stopped to unpick his level-par first information at this Open Championship - and he was burst and wanting up nan road.

The swearing that soundtracked his stomp up nan 15th had fixed measurement to weariness; small wonderment fixed nan activity of emotions he rode astatine Royal Portrush connected Thursday.

Waiting until nan mediate of nan day to statesman your first information - arsenic MacIntyre did - must fray nan edges of nan nerves arsenic good arsenic patience.

So, too, must nan swollen galleries astatine each spread of this earthy ampitheatre connected nan Antrim coast, moreover if they were chiefly conscionable getting themselves into position to spot Rory McIlroy travel done a mates of groups later.

MacIntyre, though, trim an unflustered fig successful nan institution of awesome champions Justin Rose and Bryson DeChambeau. Having travel truthful adjacent astatine past month's US Open, this is now his crucible.

"Got disconnected to nan cleanable start, didn't I? Three-under early doors, playing beautifully," was nan 28-year-old's return connected his first 8 holes.

He was right. A seven-foot birdie putt connected nan par-3 3rd was followed by further sub-par scores connected 7 and 8 aft 2 delightful attack shots to 5 feet.

MacIntyre gave nan people backmost those 2 shots successful nan adjacent 2 holes aft "a mates of awkward tee shots, a mates of awkward attack shots".

That measured appraisal was successful vivid opposition to nan ferocity that was to come.

"Wow. Wow," was his guidance aft birdie putt connected 13 stayed supra crushed earlier his scorecard holder took a crisp slap aft bogey connected 14 returned him to level.

He was still fulminating to his caddie arsenic he barrelled up 15 - punctuating his grievance pinch each nan bully swears - past made to threat a nine complete his knee aft spraying his 2nd disconnected to nan correct and leaving a spot 10 feet short of nan hole.

"Just truthful bad," he groused, acold much profanely than nan BBC censors would allow.

At this stage, MacIntyre looked for illustration he could good group occurrence to nan wholly of Portrush pinch his fury, ne'er mind his chances of contending this week.

Then, a slap of an robust connected nan 16th ripped to 12 feet and nan anger dissipated.

He and Rose blethered their measurement up to nan greenish and, moreover though nan upwind played havoc pinch his birdie putt, nan Scot had recovered his style again.

Pars up 17 and 18 ensured he would beryllium nary much than 4 back, contempt his travails.

"I thought I managed to support a lid connected it reasonably well," MacIntyre said, admirably keeping a consecutive face. "There were a mates of swears retired there, but it's difficult.

"When you get disconnected to nan commencement I sewage disconnected to, you're reasoning you should beryllium 3 aliases 4 under, but level par's a coagulated day.

"The measurement I was scrambling pinch nan past 4 holes, I would person have taken that."

As good arsenic leaving him good successful nan mix, it was besides capable to guarantee MacIntyre ended nan time arsenic nan starring Scot.

Amateurs Connor Graham and Cameron Adam some made their measurement information successful 73, while Daniel Young was 2 worse off.