Due to his excellent play on the DP World Tour a season in the past, which included a runner-up end to Rory McIlroy on the Genesis Scottish Open, Robert MacIntyre earned PGA Tour membership for the 2024 season.
However taking part in on the PGA Tour has not been the very best expertise for MacIntyre, in comparison with the comfy confines of the DP World Tour.
“It’s fully totally different,” MacIntyre defined to Bunkered, a Scottish golf publication.
“Once you’re on the DP World Tour, it’s very pleasant. Everyone seems to be collectively. We’re all touring the world. If we’re battling sure issues, we communicate to people round us.”
To date this season, MacIntyre, who performed in his first Ryder Cup in 2023 and didn’t lose a match, has solely two top-10 finishes to his identify. He tied for sixth on the Mexico Open and eighth on the Zurich Traditional of New Orleans.
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However he missed the lower at The Gamers Championship and didn’t qualify for The Masters. He additionally has not met the factors to play in any Signature Occasion thus far this season. As an alternative, he tied for thirty second on the Puerto Rico Open, held when Scottie Scheffler triumphed at Bay Hill.
MacIntyre may even play on the Myrtle Seaside Traditional this week, not the Wells Fargo Championship, which bodes an elite 69-player subject.
“You come out right here to the PGA Tour, and it’s all so unfamiliar,” added MacIntyre.
“There’s much less chatting. There’s much less dinners. There’s simply much less of that large household really feel that you simply get on the European Tour.”
The European Ryder Cup staff particularly prides itself on staff camaraderie and chemistry. By extension, these ideas unfold the DP World Tour, the place the highest European gamers rise by means of the ranks.
“Sitting in participant eating, you do it in Europe and also you’ve obtained all of the Scottish boys, you’ve obtained all of the British boys,” MacIntyre added.
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“Loads of the European guys, for those who’re sitting by yourself, they may come and be part of you… Out [on the PGA Tour], since you don’t know many people, you don’t know them in that very same sort of depth, they don’t come to take a seat with you. It does turn into a lonely place on the golf facet of it.”
The golf programs are clearly totally different, too.
“It’s what it’s. You’ve obtained to get on with it. There are plenty of different issues. New golf programs,” MacIntyre defined.
“Over right here, they’re just about all new, and then you definately’ve obtained the totally different grasses. Clearly, I used to be not introduced up taking part in plenty of Bermuda, grainy grass, pitching, placing. It’s simply fully totally different. However it’s a studying curve.”
Hopefully, MacIntyre’s expertise of taking part in golf in the US will enhance as time passes. However for now, the Scotsman continues to battle to develop accustomed to the difficulties of American skilled golf—one thing that quite a few European gamers have toiled with earlier than and certain will achieve this sooner or later.
But, the Scotsman is aware of that loads of alternative awaits throughout the 50 states.
“It’s an important place to play golf. It’s clearly the place the very best gamers on the earth are. It’s the place you may make more cash,” MacIntyre mentioned.
“It’s a special setting for me, however I’m simply making an attempt to get pleasure from it as a lot as I can and study as a lot as I can, week in and week out.”
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By way of. Make sure to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You’ll be able to observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.
