Europe captain Luke Donald believes Robert MacIntyre’s stellar Ryder Cup debut gave him the assumption he can “deal with something”.
MacIntyre gained two and a half factors from three matches in Rome final yr, together with a singles victory over US Open champion Wyndham Clark, as the house aspect regained the trophy in emphatic fashion.
The left-hander has since gained his first PGA Tour title within the RBC Canadian Open and produced a surprising end to win the Genesis Scottish Open title on Sunday, simply days earlier than the 152nd Open will get below manner at Royal Troon.
“It’s been extraordinarily particular to win two nationwide opens and final week, with all of the stress with him being sincere about that being the one he needed to win, that reveals a whole lot of grit and willpower,” Donald mentioned.
“Everyone knows Bob had that in spades, he confirmed it on the Ryder Cup. It was a troublesome week for him, he didn’t really feel like he was at his greatest, and he saved grinding and discovering little issues right here and there.
“In the event you embrace the Ryder Cup and have a superb week like he did, you stroll away from that week considering when you can deal with that stress, you possibly can deal with something.
“I’d hope the Ryder Cup helped in his journey and he can proceed this kind and maintain going from power to power as he’s exhibiting he is without doubt one of the greatest on the planet proper now.”
MacIntyre is because of get his Open marketing campaign below manner shortly after 9.30am alongside Ryder Cup team-mates Jon Rahm and Tommy Fleetwood, with US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau within the group behind.
World quantity two Rory McIlroy, who agonisingly completed a shot behind DeChambeau at Pinehurst, is due out alongside Tyrrell Hatton and Max Homa shortly after 10am, with Tiger Woods and Scottie Scheffler among the many later starters.
Something new for 2024?
For its tenth staging of the Open Championship, Royal Troon will measure 7,385 yards, 195 greater than when Henrik Stenson lifted the Claret Jug in 2016 following an epic duel with Phil Mickelson.
The addition of twenty-two yards to the par-five sixth implies that, at 623 yards, it has regained its standing because the longest on the Open rota, with the shortest – the 123-yard Postage Stamp with its Coffin Bunker – coming two holes later.
Kind gamers?
Dwelling favorite MacIntyre arrives on the again of a memorable victory within the Genesis Scottish Open, the place McIlroy bounced again from his US Open heartache with a tie for fourth.
World primary Scheffler has not competed since his sixth win of the season within the Vacationers Championship on June 23, whereas DeChambeau adopted his US Open win with high 10s in two LIV occasions.
Chosen tee instances
0635 – Justin Leonard, Todd Hamilton, Jack McDonald
0936 – Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood, Robert MacIntyre
0947 – Ludvig Aberg, Bryson DeChambeau, Tom Kim
1009 – Rory McIlroy, Max Homa, Tyrrell Hatton
1437 – Tiger Woods, Xander Schauffele, Patrick Cantlay
1510 – Jordan Spieth, Scottie Scheffler, Cameron Younger
Climate forecast
Cloudy with outbreaks of primarily gentle rain or drizzle on and off throughout the day. It should grow to be breezy with an opportunity of an extended interval of rain and drizzle creating within the late afternoon. Winds from the south or SSE at 12-15 mph, gusting 20-25 mph, strongest within the early afternoon.
