Why authentic Bob MacIntyre will never be man who wears imaginary mask
‘If you take all the personalities away from the game of golf, it will be boring’
There’s every chance that you’ll keep seeing him now and again sporting a shinty helmet, but forget Bob MacIntyre ever wearing an imaginary mask.
As evidenced in his opening effort in the Genesis Scottish Open, the Oban man is making progress in his bid to stop himself from exploding on the golf course.
He started with a three-putt bogey in the company of fellow recent winners Rory McIlroy and Chris Gotterup at The Renaissance Club then left a birdie putt hanging on the edge of the hole at the fifth.
Earlier this year, the Scot would probably have been heading for the next tee with steam coming out of his ears and still resembled a raging bull a few holes later - but not on this occasion.
Adjusting to life changes off the course after becoming a dad earlier this year, MacIntyre is in a happy place at the moment and was eventually rewarded for keeping a lid on things.
Helped by a great up and down from a greenside bunker at the ninth - his closing hole - the 29-year-old opened with a three-under 67 to have the leaders in his sights heading into day two of the Rolex Series event.
“Everyone knows that I'm like a kettle, always boiling away, ready to erupt,” he admitted afterwards in a Sky Sports Golf interview before conceding in a separate chat with reporters that there have definitely been signs of improvement in that respect.
“Recently, aye. Yeah, 100 per cent,” he admitted. Everyone sees the professional life, not everyone sees the personal life. Look, I’m lucky. I’ve got a great family, great friends. It’s a small group and I love every one of them and trust them all.
“But, when things aren’t right, it’s a struggle when I’ve got to come out here and try and pretend that everything is alright. And it gets to a point where I am absolutely raging, can’t keep a lid on it and then it explodes, as you guys have all seen.
“I accept that when that happens, it doesn’t look pretty, it doesn’t look good. It’s not great for kids, it’s not great for anybody. But, at the end of the day, it’s my job.”
MacIntyre, who was reprimanded for flicking a one-fingered gesture at Augusta National during the opening round of The Masters earlier this year, revealed he is working with a psychologist.
“Yeah, I do,” he replied to being asked if he speaks to anybody. “I work with someone. We’ve been working with him for three years, since I realised I needed to speak to someone. I think we do a great job. I speak to him once or twice a week and can message whenever I want.”
Unofficial sessions with golf writers might also be a good thing. “It’s funny as I say that when I get fined,” he said, laughing, after it had been pointed out to him that authenticity is a key part of who he is. “It’s a personality. If you take all the personalities away from the game of golf, it will be boring.
“Rory [McIlroy] over there has his personality, Chris [Gotterup] has his personality. I think the game needs big personalities. Like Bryson [DeChambeau]. A big personality on YouTube, everything he does.”
MacIntyre’s opening effort was matched late in the day by Calum Hill after he holed a 42-foot birdie putt at the 17th. Grant Forrest, who is attached to The Renaissance Club, signed for a 69 along with Scott Jamieson while Ewen Ferguson and Connor Syme shot 70 and 75 respectively.
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