THE 152ND OPEN

July 18, 2024

Robert MacIntyre

Mixed Zone

Q. What did you make of your round?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: I thought it was almost perfect. The putter didn't turn up today, but I thought tee to green was absolutely superb, especially that front nine, wind in out of the right. Wasn't comfortable at all. I've got the clubs to do that; just were between a 3 and a rescue today and were on the range hitting both of them and decided to go with the rescue just because it allowed us more of a turn back into the wind, and I thought overall the round of golf, I thought it was close to perfect.

Q. How testing were conditions out there?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: It's tough. The wind, I think a lot of guys had game plans to just send driver the first few holes and to pitch up there today. When it's straight back into the wind it kind of switches you back into fighting, and it's difficult. I'm hoping it doesn't die off later on.

But yeah, it's difficult.

Q. Obviously pleased with the finish?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: Yeah, it was big. Again, I thought I played absolutely superb and had loads of chances from inside that 12-foot range. Didn't hole them today, but I gave myself good chances. I thought I rolled them well, and they went the opposite way. But that's Troon. It's very subtle. It's old school links golf where the greens are very flat but they just kink left to right, and the crosswinds, as well, when you're hitting a putt, the ball will move in the wind.

Q. Even Rory, didn't he go for the tee shot, 16 foot (indiscernible)?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: On the way out, I'm fighting hard just to keep the ball in play. But I know that when we turned that the right-handers are fighting hard to keep the ball in play. But with me a natural drawer of the golf ball, I had a game plan to go short, I had a game plan to go over, and I walked on to the tee and I looked up at the flags and seen they were more down, turned to Mike and he looked at me and he went, driver, and I went, yep.

I knew I was covering the burn. I think it was like 305 to cover the burn. With the wind the way it is, it's no bother. If we hit it in the thick stuff, we just pitched out and would have wedged it on. But I like to hit driver.

Q. How did the find the support out there?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: It was incredible, to be honest. I walked on a lot of tees, a lot of greens, loud cheers. I can't thank people enough for their support. Obviously what I done last week was massive for that. I keep saying the support I had since I've came on the European Tour in 2019 has been incredible.

Q. If you look at the scores, not many low scores. You must feel if you go out there tomorrow and get that extra putt you can be in contention?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: Again, it's just getting my chance going into Sunday. It's not can he win it today, can he win it Friday, can he win it Saturday. But you can play yourself out of it. I thought a 1-over-par score today was a good round of golf, and we're still in it.

Q. Was this one of your best rounds at The Open given after last week with everything that was going on?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: Obviously the prep wasn't great, but that's by the by. But I thought we prepared well kind of Tuesday, Wednesday, and with the conditions out there, I just thought the way I'm swinging the golf club and moving the ball in the air and fighting the winds has been -- it was close to perfect today.