Why Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre left it all out there on Sunday at his favorite major, the Masters

AUGUSTA, Georgia – The Old Course at St. Andrews may host the British Open this summer, but top Scot Robert MacIntyre has only one goal in mind: get back to Augusta.

“You play it once and you’re just like, it’s the most special place I‘ve ever been in my life,” said MacIntyre after a closing 3-under 69 at the 86th Masters.

“They say The Open is beautiful, but I think Augusta National beats it.”

Last year, in his Masters debut, MacIntyre tied for 12th to earn a spot in the 2022 field. On Sunday, the 25-year-old thought he might be able to secure a return invitation after he birdied the 14th hole to move to 4 under on the day and oh-so-close to the top 12. But the lefty watched his second shot ricochet back to him from the trees on the par-5 15th and the ensuing bogey stifled his run.

“That was the only bad shot I hit all day,” said MacIntyre. “That was just a cardinal sin.”

MacIntyre finished 3-over 291 for the tournament in a share of 23rd, two shots out of the top 12.

He has now competed in eight major championships and made the cut in each, posting a top-10 finish in his last two British Open starts.

MacIntyre and his team have worked on keeping a clear mind inside the ropes and getting away from technique. His goal this week was to just go play. The creativity that’s required at a place like Augusta National makes that goal easier to execute.

Since he first started coming to the U.S. to compete, MacIntyre said his game is “night and day” when he considers how much better he can control the golf ball.

“I can draw the driver, which is massive,” he said. “I can fade it. I can do absolutely anything with the driver. If I drive it well, nine times out of 10 it’s going to be a good tournament.”

Hiring Stuart Morgan as a performance coach has been key to this year, said MacIntyre, who found himself slacking off in the practice department last season. He no longer beats balls on the range for an hour and then wonders what to do next. There’s structure.

“It’s the most productive practice I’ve ever had in my life,” he said.

MacIntyre’s best world ranking to date is 42nd, but he has slipped down to his current position of 74. A top-50 ranking by year’s end would qualify him for next year’s Masters.

“If I’m going to be honest with you, my goal is to get back to Augusta National in 2023,” he said on Sunday.

“That’s the only goal I really have in my mind right now. There’s golf tournaments in the world that I feel I can win, and this is one of them.”