ROYAL PORTRUSH — Scotland's Bob MacIntyre remains in contention at the Open Championship, sitting inside the top 10 heading into the final round, but his third-round performance left much to be desired as he battles to keep his hopes alive.
Frustrating Saturday at Royal Portrush
MacIntyre, who started the day just three shots off the lead, struggled to find momentum during a frustrating third round at Royal Portrush. Despite carding a respectable even-par 71, the left-hander failed to capitalize on opportunities that could have positioned him closer to the leaders. "It was one of those days where nothing quite clicked," MacIntyre admitted afterward.
His round was a mix of missed birdie chances and untimely bogeys, including a costly three-putt on the par-3 16th. While he remains in the hunt, MacIntyre knows he needs a stronger performance on Sunday to challenge for the Claret Jug.
The Need for a Fast Start
With the leaders pulling away, MacIntyre acknowledges that a fast start is crucial. "I’ve got to come out firing tomorrow," he said. "If I can get a couple of early birdies, that could set the tone and put some pressure on the guys ahead."
Key areas MacIntyre must improve:
- Putting: His strokes gained putting ranked outside the top 50 on Saturday.
- Approach play: Missed greens in regulation cost him scoring opportunities.
- Mental resilience: Avoiding lapses like the late bogey on 16.
The Challenge Ahead
MacIntyre trails the leaders by five strokes, meaning he’ll need a low round and some help from those ahead. History suggests it’s possible—Paul Lawrie famously came from 10 shots back in 1999—but the odds are against him.
His playing partner, a seasoned major contender, offered encouragement: "Bob’s got the game to do it. If he stays patient and takes his chances, he can make a run."
Final Thoughts
MacIntyre’s Open journey isn’t over yet, but time is running out. A hot start on Sunday could reignite his chances, while another slow day will likely leave him outside the winner’s circle. "I’ll give it everything," he vowed.
Fans will be watching closely to see if the Scot can summon the magic needed to mount a final-round charge and etch his name into Open Championship history.
