THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

March 15, 2026

Robert MacIntyre

TPC Sawgrass

Quick Quotes

Q. What is it like to play this golf course with THE PLAYERS hanging in the balance? Stressful, I imagine?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: No, it was stressful. I was actually struggling to eat early in the back nine. Yeah, it's what I want to do. It's where I want to compete. Obviously last year was a big kind of wake-up call for me in order to know that I can really compete at the top end of world golf. I had a chance today to do something very special that obviously Sandy was the last one to do it from our country.

Yeah, coming into that back nine, middle of that back nine I really thought I was in with a shout. The way I'm playing, driving it beautifully, putting unbelievable, it was just a matter of getting that ball inside 30 feet and then look out. Yeah, just disappointed with the bogeys on the back nine to finish, but yeah, I gave it a shot.

Q. Is it hard to stay aggressive when there's that much trouble?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: Like 16 for me, I was between clubs. I couldn't get there. I tried to hit a hard 7-wood in there. 3-wood comes in too hot. I was wanting to draw it, but in the back of my mind I'm like, just lay it up the left side and worst case scenario you'll make 5. But I got the worst lie that I could possibly get all week in a kind of a little valley where the mowers couldn't get to it and it was six, seven inches long.

It's a sore one right now, but yeah, 17 and 18 we still played aggressive but smart. That was the caddie's words. I was wanting to go straight at that pin on 17, just throw the dice at it. But at the end of the day, it's a good week. I wouldn't have wanted to walk off there with a bogey on 16, a double on 17, and then probably a bogey on 18 with my head off. Overall decent week, just with a chance.

Q. That third shot on 16, did you consider just trying to get it on the front of the green?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: I was trying to. I was thinking this is struggling to even move a yard. I was thinking, this might not come out of this rough. It actually come out nice. I thought it was good. I thought it was going to end up 45 feet down the right side. I didn't once think it was going in the water. Yeah, here we are.

Q. It looks like Matt might get this done. Do you have a favorite Fitzpatrick story that kind of speaks to what he's all about?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: I just laugh at his wife's TikToks when Matt is in the background. No, Matt is a great guy, superb player. Obviously has come back from a little bit of a lull from the start of last year, and he's probably been top 5 in the world since halfway through last season. Been lucky enough, he's been a teammate in the Ryder Cup for two years now. Yeah, if it wasn't me, then hopefully it's him.

Q. Did you learn anything from him, how to prepare or anything at the Ryder Cup?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: Probably not, to be honest with you. I'm less analytical. I'm not the brightest guy, but I know how to play golf, just shape balls. He graphs well, he and his caddie do a great job. Hopefully they can get the job done.