Bob MacIntyre has called for more Open Championships to be held in Scotland as he defends his Alfred Dunhill Links title at St Andrews.
The Oban golfer, currently Scotland's No.1, spoke at the Home of Golf as he looks to reclaim the crown he won 12 months ago. He also faces a fight to secure his place in the end-of-season DP World Tour Play Offs.
Call for more Scottish venues
The Old Course will stage the 155th Open next year, but MacIntyre wants more Claret Jug chases on home soil. Since his debut at Royal Portrush in 2019, Scotland has hosted only two Opens: St Andrews in 2022 and Royal Troon two years ago.
Talk of Carnoustie, which last hosted in 2018 when Francesco Molinari won, getting another chance has circulated recently. Asked about Carnoustie, MacIntyre said: “That would be brilliant. Proper test of golf. I feel like there's not enough Open Championships in Scotland anymore. It's only coming here. Like I say, here, Carnoustie, Muirfield, I'd love to see them all in it, proper championship test.”
Play Off qualification battle
MacIntyre does not view this week's title defence, which includes rounds at Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, as preparation for next year's Open. He admits he still has work to do to book his spot in the DP World Tour's season finale.
Based mainly on the PGA Tour, which does not count for the Race to Dubai totals, MacIntyre needs to finish in the Top 70 in the rankings to make the Abu Dhabi Championship. The Top 50 from Yas Links then progress to the DP World Tour Final at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
The Tour has a contingency plan to stage the season-ending event at Sotogrande in Spain if the Middle East conflict rules out the scheduled venues. MacIntyre, currently 70th in the Race to Dubai rankings, said: “Yeah, I'm still not in them. If I play well this week, I may have a decision to make, but as I sit here now, I'm not even in the golf tournaments. I've not got enough points to be in them, I don't think. If I've got to make a decision, then I'll make a decision. But right now, I'm behind, so I need to catch up.”
Life changes and priorities
Much has changed for MacIntyre since his success last year, most notably the arrival of his son Findlay at the start of the year. Ryder Cup team-mates Matt Fitzpatrick and Tyrrell Hatton have also become first-time fathers in 2026.
MacIntyre said: “Yeah, look, life is different. I really have to manage my time better. I've not done that well enough probably in the last, probably three, four months. I've been all over the place, I think. Priorities, doing X, Y and Z, performing on the golf course. I've spoken to everyone about it. Certain things put in place going forward.”
He added: “I speak to Tyrrell and Fitzy quite a bit, but life anywhere, they are probably two of the guys I would speak to the most, especially Tyrrell, away from golf. It's not so much for me, Tyrrell and Matt, it's probably more partners that there's more things in common now. There's more things that you can chat about, go and do things together with the kids.”
Reflecting on fatherhood, he said: “Of course, they [children] are now all so little, but as they grow, you'll almost be able to make pals for the kids when they are on the road again. So, yeah, it's good on that side. Life's good. Now my life has completely changed and priorities have changed, but I still want to be the best golfer I can be. The things that I'm doing just now, I'm probably not going to achieve the things I want to achieve. I need to start tweaking things and putting more things in place if I want to achieve what I want to achieve.”
Memories of last year's win
MacIntyre will draw on memories of last year's “special” success in his title defence. He said: “I've not had the best relationship with the Old Course, but to finally get across the line here, it was nice. And to do it back on home soil is always extra special. It's good to be back and going to see the new changes in the Old Course and see what's what, make a plan.”
He added: “Last year, coming from the Ryder Cup, I sat up here literally before the presser, went and practiced, played 12 holes. I know all the courses. I know that this is the only place that's had some serious changes. These are long, long rounds. It's almost about saving your energy for what's potentially four, five-and-a-half, six hour round. I'm fairly chilled out with that side. Not chilled out with how my golf is!”
