THE 151ST OPEN

July 20, 2023

Robert MacIntyre

Mixed Zone

Q. I watched you play the first few holes and you were certainly on cruise control. Just a slower start to the back nine?

ROBERT MACINTYRE: I feel I've played a lot better than my score shows. I just had probably one really bad shot -- not really bad, just one poor shot that kind of killed me, and then you get sucker punched by the bunkers here.

Q. You had to go out sideways?

ROBERT MACINTYRE: They're brutal bunkers. You can get lucky or get unlucky, and I got unlucky.

Q. Birdieing the last gives you that wee boost going into tomorrow?

ROBERT MACINTYRE: It's a tough tee shot, and I feel like I've played the holes well. There's times I hit it in the rough I was almost -- I was favoring that side of -- almost the right rough down I think it's 15, favoring the right rough trying to just smash it and pulled it down 16.

There's just certain bunkers you just can't go in there, and then I just lose control going into the green. I've got to rethink the way I'm playing it.

No, I hit two perfect shots on 18 that ran over the green, but I feel I played solid.

Q. This is your fourth Open venue; how does that test compare to the other three in terms of difficulty?

ROBERT MACINTYRE: It's different. It's different. There's a lot of doglegs that kind of suck you into the pot bunkers almost. I could go out there and play a lot more defensive, but that's not how I play golf.

I'm here to try and compete. I mean, hitting driver on a lot more holes than most people, and that's just the way I play golf.

Q. You obviously used to say about the Old Course, this is a course we'll never get to grips with. Is this a place you could? Does it suit your eye?

ROBERT MACINTYRE: I can get to grips with it. I finished over par today, but actually felt solid. I felt like I played decent. I didn't hole anything kind of on the front nine, which could have been 1-, 2-under par there, but a double bogey kills you.

But other than that, I felt like I played solidly enough. I think I can get to grips with the place, unlike the Old Course.

Q. You said you're going to rethink ahead of tomorrow. What elements of it are you going to tweak?

ROBERT MACINTYRE: Just certain tee shots. You've got to be in the fairways, especially with it getting firmer. You've just got to make sure you're in the fairways. I kind of struggled with my 3-wood a little bit. That's why I always tend to go with a driver and send it out there.

Just some strategy shots off the tee, whether I lay it further back to try and guarantee the fairway, but with me, you can never guarantee it.

Q. What was your sort of strong point today if anything pleased you?

ROBERT MACINTYRE: Overall tee to green I felt solid. Well, chipping. I just didn't hole many putts. 18 there I just made sure -- I seen Shane's putt snap across the hole, and I was like, whatever you do, don't have it low, just make sure it's got enough height on it. Yeah, perfect putt, so hopefully tomorrow more of the same.

Q. Last week was a different experience, but I'm curious when you have the crowd support, when you are the player, kind of like Tommy is out here, is that only a positive experience? Is part of it potentially negative? Does it get distracting in any way?

ROBERT MACINTYRE: No, I think last week because I was playing as well as I was, I was in so much control, it wasn't a problem, but you can -- I remember the Old Course last year, coming down the stretch, needing pars to make the cut. That golf course has never been that good for myself or for many left-handers.

That was probably the one time that I've really felt like the home crowd was getting to me because I was wanting it that bad that I couldn't -- I felt almost like I was letting them down kind of a thing. Just now with the way it is, I'm playing good golf, and I've just got to try and ride the wave.