Bob MacIntyre branded 'explosive-type' as Masters chances rated by two-time US Open champion

Two-time US Open champion Curtis Strange believes Bob MacIntyre has the “explosive” game to get himself in the Masters mix next week after being close to becoming Scotland’s first men’s major winner in more than a decade last year.

MacIntyre is heading to Augusta National for just the fourth time, having given an excellent account of himself in both 2021 and 2022, finishing joint-12th then joint-23rd, before missing the cut on his return to the Georgia venue last year after a two-year gap.

Bob MacIntyre pictured during last year’s Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club | Andrew Redington/Getty Images

The Oban man is making the journey on this occasion as one of the game’s best players, having been inside the world’s top ten since the end of the 2025 PGA Tour season and only recently dropping just outside.

MacIntyre’s belief that he can become a major champion was strengthened when he finished second behind J.J. Spaun in last year’s US Open at Oakmont before also producing a top-ten effort in The Open at Royal Portrush, where world No 1 Scottie Scheffler picked up the Claret Jug, a few weeks later.

‘You wouldn’t surprise anyone at all if he won’

He is now heading into the 2026 major campaign with a spring in his step again after giving himself a chance coming down the stretch in The Players Championship last month before ending up fourth behind Cameron Young at TPC Sawgrass.

“Absolutely not,” declared Strange, speaking in his role as ESPN’s lead golf analyst, after Scott Van Pelt, who will be anchoring the channel’s coverage next week, had told The Scotsman that he wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if MacIntyre emulated his compatriot Sandy Lyle by claiming a Green Jacket.

“I’m not a believer that lefties have somewhat of an advantage at Augusta National. You still have to hit the shots. But, you know, I always look at him (MacIntyre) as an explosive-type player and guess what you have to be at Augusta at times - an explosive-type of player to take advantage of these par-5s and some of these par-4s. You would not surprise anyone at all if he played well here and won.”

MacIntyre, who became a dad for the first time earlier this year, is finalising his preparation for the 90th edition of the event founded by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts by playing in this week’s Valero Texas Open in San Antonio.

‘I think he is as tough as hell’

The 29-year-old is scheduled to arrive at Augusta National on Monday and, on the strength of his performances over the past 12 months in particular, it’s no surprise that lots of people believe he can pull off a first tartan triumph in one of the game’s marquee events since Paul Lawrie won The Open at Carnoustie in 1999.

“I love his game,” said Van Pelt, one of the top golf presenters in the US, on a media conference call arranged by ESPN. “I think he is tough as hell and I feel like he competes. I feel like the best in the world have their best when it is required and I feel like he has shown it on a number of occasions.

“There was a time when you wondered about lefties on this course and now there are several. Would Bob be an out-of-left-field win? It might not be on the tip of the tongue of every golf fan, but anyone who pays attention you’d say ‘no, that doesn’t feel out of left field at all’.

“I don’t want to be talking out of both sides of my neck here because it is hard to win majors, but I think there is a group of people you’d say ‘if this person won one, would it shock you?’ If big Bob won one, it wouldn’t shock me at all. No, no!”