Page 12 - Golf World (February 2020)
P. 12
“I was close to being European number one a few times so I know how tough it is
to get over the line. For him to do it so soon after turning professional shows
how good he is. It is only a matter of time before he is world number one as well.”
Sergio Garcia praises Race to Dubai winner Jon Rahm.
FIVE BURNING QUESTIONS FOR…
RobertMacIntyre
“I couldn’t keep my driver on the planet, I didn’t want to play golf…
and now I’m nearly in the top-50 in the world…”
2019 was the year Robert MacIntyre greenkeeper; he works two jobs. My mum life was about. It was an away game on the
announced himself to the golfing world. In previously worked three or four jobs. Now bus with the boys, enjoying ourselves, and it
his debut season on the European Tour he she’s starting to cool it down a wee bit, made me realise that the job I’m doing isn’t a
clocked up seven top-10s, including three which is nice. It’s been down to them and job. You’re doing it because you enjoy it, and
runner-up finishes. He came T-6 in his major they have given me the chance. Now I just that’s the mindset I’ve had since then. It
debut at The Open, becoming the first thank them so much. made me realise, don’t find it a chore. Go
Scotsman since Colin Montgomerie to finish and enjoy it, every day, every week. That’s
in the top-10, came 11th in the Race to Dubai Was there a moment when everything what I’ve done, and here we are.
and was named European Tour Rookie of the 3 clicked?
Year. Recent winners of that award include The week between Morocco and the British You’ve settled quickly among the
Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka, and we Masters. We were in Morocco, missed the 4 game’s elite. Did you ever feel nervous
wouldn’t be at all surprised if young Bob cut, and I pulled out of the China event the playing alongside golfers you’d grown up
follows them to even greater success. following week. I wasn’t enjoying golf. watching? It took guts to challenge Kyle
Everyone knows I wasn’t enjoying golf. Stanley for not shouting “fore”...
Did your season on the Challenge Tour I didn’t even want to be playing golf, if I’m I said at the start of the season that I
1prepare you for the European Tour? honest with you. wouldn’t really know I was on the European
It made me the player I am today. I learned So I took the week off, went and played Tour until I played with a star. It was Ernie
how to travel on m own I learned how to some shint and that made me realise what l On the first tee in Johannesbur I
