Scottish golfer Robert MacIntyre has secured an invite to a PGA Tour event for the very first time in his career after earning a spot at this week’s Wyndham Championship in North Carolina.
The 25-year-old has made 12 appearances on the PGA Tour this campaign, however all have been earnt via his world ranking rather than Tour invitation, meaning he has not been able to pick up any FedEx Cup points or appear in the event’s rankings – until now.
As a result, the Scot’s impressive tied-15th finish at last week’s WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational in Memphis saw him qualify for temporary Tour membership, earning him an invitation to this week’s event at Sedgefield Country Club.
MacIntyre’s temporary membership means he can’t secure a place in the FedEx play-offs events later this month at the Northern Trust, BMW Championship and Tour Championship.
However, another impressive performance at the Wyndham could help him secure an all important Tour card for next season.
The left-hander has proved to be one of golf’s rising stars across over the past two seasons after showcasing his skills on the biggest stage, securing a tied-12th finish on his Masters debut at Augusta this year, as well finishing in a tie for eighth in only his second Open Championship performance this July.
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His impressive 2021 major performances also included top-50 finishes in both the PGA Championship and US Open, leaving him in second behind America’s Will Zalatoris in this list of the Tour’s non-members.
Speaking after another successful week at TPC Southwind, MacIntyre said: “I’m enjoying my golf just now.“I’m playing well and I’ve just got to let it happen.
He added: “I played solid enough all week. I putted great in the final round other than one putt on the ninth but, overall, the golf has been good. I’ve been in play all the time. I probably hit one bad tee shot all week and I got punished for it, but, other than that, I felt that I played really well.”
Another impressive campaign from the Scot has also resulted in his name being considered for this year’s European Ryder Cup team, as Padraig Harrington takes his side to Whistling Straits to defend the title they regained in Paris in 2018.
MacIntyre currently finds himself just outside automatic qualification, however captain Harrington does have three wildcard picks to complete his side.
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As a result, former winning-Ryder Cup captain and fellow Scotsman Colin Montgomerie believes the 25-year-old is more than deserving of a place at Whistling Straits this September.
Speaking at last month’s senior Open Montgomerie said: “Padraig is looking for winners, for people who will go for it, he’s looking for the Robert MacIntyres of this world.”
However, the eight-time Ryder Cup player feels the one thing that could stand in the way of MacIntyre’s Ryder Cup debut this September is the European’s making the trip to away soil.
He added: “If the Ryder Cup was being played in Europe, you’d have him in the team tomorrow. Being in America has a different dynamic and you usually go with experience.
Despite this he believes the 25-year-old is well worth the risk: “I don’t think I would have picked a rookie if I was captain for an away match. It’s too much of a risk. But the way Robert plays the game is a Ryder Cup-type game. That’s what you want, someone who will go for it.”
