THE 153RD OPEN

July 18, 2025

Robert MacIntyre

Mixed Zone

Q. That was an impressive score. Was it even more impressive ball striking wise?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: Yeah, it was good. I felt like for almost all 18 holes today, I felt like I done what I done on the front nine yesterday. I'm comfortable with the golf course. I'm comfortable with what me and Mike are doing, and I just have to go out there and try and execute.

Q. It could have been two or three more, but they just stayed out?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: Again, I feel like -- even yesterday I felt like I played beautifully. I think I gained one on the greens yesterday, but I didn't feel that. Yeah, I've had this before where it's not going to end, not going to end, but staying patient and just wait and not run when you do start winning.

Q. What was that feeling like when that run started on the back nine? How is that feeling? Are you excited when that happens?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: It's good. I look at leaderboards all the time. So I'm always looking right where I am, top of the leaderboard, bottom of the leaderboard. I'm always going to keep my eye on it and try and work my way through it and just see what the chances are. Yeah, I just keep doing -- try to play aggressively but smart at the same time.

A couple of good breaks, a couple of bad breaks, but I managed to get up-and-down on the par-5 when I thought I had the perfect golf shot. Yeah, just a solid day's work.

Q. You've always said you're not scared in and some guys shy away from looking at the leaderboard. Did you almost use that as an ego thing to tack on when you see things happen?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: Yeah, it can also be one of the ones where you want to stay in touch. It also helps by not making mistakes because you know no one's running away with this.

When I bogeyed 17 and I seen that they got to 8 when I was coming down 17, I'm like, come on, let's get one closer. Then I hole that nice putt on 17, and I'm like, come on, that's what it's about. It just gives you that confidence that you're within touch. You're not too far out there. You're right there.

Q. Can I ask about the 3-wood in your bag, I hear it's a TaylorMade Aeroburner? 10-year-old equipment in there. What is it about a relic of a club to some degree that keeps you excited?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: I've always struggled with 3-woods ever since I was young, and I had that, and I actually thought it broke in -- I think it was 2020 at Abu Dhabi. It just wasn't going the distance. That's what I changed. I stopped using it until last year just before the Dunhill. Still I was searching for a 3-wood since 2020.

I went back into the cupboard and looked at the antiques. I hit it a couple of times in my simulator, and it was doing everything it used to do when everyone else thought it was broke. Yeah, it works. It works.

Q. Compared to 2019, is this a more enjoyable week?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: Yeah, it's different. It doesn't feel as much pressure. Probably change that, probably less expectation for myself. In 2019 I was nervous, excited, but put a lot of pressure on myself because I love the golf course and there was so much going on, first major.

Now I feel like this is where I want to be. These are the tournaments I want to compete really hard in come Sundays. I feel like the last three majors I've put myself in good position after 36 holes. However long my career is going to be, this is what I want to do. Until I give it up, I'm going to give it my best shot.

I feel like the team that I've got around me are a massive, massive help in that. I trust them with everything, and they trust me with everything. Just keep the foot down and keep going forward.

Q. Those feelings that you have and the way you're playing, do you feel like this could be your time this weekend?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: There's potential. It could be anyone's time. I'm in a good spot. I feel happy, confident, comfortable. I'm going to go out and give it my best shot all the way through Sunday afternoon.

Q. You're not scared of it?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: No, I'm not scared. I'm not going to back away. It's completely different to Oakmont. Oakmont, I couldn't roll the dice. It was never let's press, let's press. It was always, right, let's go out here with pars.

This week, hopefully come the 69th, 70th hole, I've got a chance. If I've got a chance, I'm going to roll it.

Q. How pleased are you to be in this position at this stage here?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: Yeah, it's brilliant. I've got so much more confidence and so much more belief that I am good enough. Obviously winning in Europe, winning in America, you're good enough for that, there's another little level to it. I've obviously managed to finish top 10s in majors before, but I've never competed. In the PGA Championship this year, I was right in the mix. There was a lot going on Saturday, Sunday, and I fell away, but I had so much confidence going in that I was at that level now.

Oakmont obviously happens, which gives you another boost, but now I said it just last year, if it's not a major championship, the Scottish Open, now we've got that, the full focus is on winning majors.

Q. The support you're getting over there as it compares to 2019?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: Yeah, it's different. There's more attention now, but it's unbelievable. Obviously I'm not too far from home, as the crow flies. It's nice. I have not that many family and friends out this week. It's a lot tamer on that side of it. 2019 was really busy. No, the support over here I get is unbelievable.

Q. How did you find playing with Bryson?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: It was good. It was my first time playing with him. Yeah, it was good to see how he goes about his business.

Q. You seem different characters as golfers?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: We are, we're two completely different golfers. He's obviously got his way of doing it, but to be honest again, my golf's going closer to him now with the science and the TrackMans, biomechanics, everything. There's so much more going down Bryson's route.

Yeah, I'll just keep playing golf my way and see, whether it's Bryson, whether it's Scottie, whoever's better than me, just try to piece by piece get better.