Bob MacIntyre put last week’s crushing disappointment behind him in fine style as he got off to a blistering start in the hunt for a $10million payday at the FedEx Cup finale in Atlanta.
The Scot endured a final-round collapse at the BMW Championship in Maryland last Sunday as he lost his duel with world No 1 Scottie Scheffler and later claimed he wanted to ‘smash up my golf clubs’ after letting a four-shot lead slip.
But the Oban left-hander showed little sign of a hangover in yesterday’s first round at the $40m Tour Championship — where the winner will walk away with that record eight-figure winner’s cheque — as he carded an impressive 64 to put himself right in contention.
MacIntyre wasted little time in getting back in the groove, a beautiful approach shot on the par-four first hole setting up a 4ft birdie opportunity that he drained to settle any nerves.
The 29-year-old picked up two more shots at the sixth and eighth holes before catching fire at par-three 11th, an inch-perfect tee shot setting him up for the first of three consecutive birdies.
A dropped shot on the 16th preceeded a par on 17 and a fantastic birdie on the par-five final hole after he narrowly missed out on an eagle with a 50ft chip on to the green.
MacIntyre chips a beauty on to the 18th green to set up a tap-in birdie to seal his 64
MacIntyre was smiling again just days after insisting he wanted to ‘smash up his golf clubs’
The Scot’s six-under round put him three shots off the early lead set by American Russell Henley, who carded a sensational bogey-free 61. Scheffler sits ominously two shots behind after opening with his own blemish-free round in defence of his crown.
Alongside MacIntyre in a share of third was two-time major champion Collin Morikawa, 2021 FedEx Cup winner Patrick Cantlay, Justin Thomas, the 2017 FedEx champion, and England Tommy Fleetwood, who would surely love to break his PGA Tour duck here with such a mammoth top prize on offer.
Rory McIlroy opened with a 66 for a share of eighth place after a pair of back-nine bogeys marred an otherwise positive round.
Meanwhile, home favourite Matt Fitzpatrick sat one shot off the lead after the first round of the Betfred British Masters at The Belfry.
The Englishman carded seven birdies and two bogeys to sign for an opening 67, one behind a quartet of players out in front on six under par.
The 30-year-old former US Open champions, who claimed the first of his nine DP World Tour titles at this event in 2015, can no longer qualify automatically for next month’s Ryder Cup but will be hoping to show European captain Luke Donald that he deserves to be one of his picks.
After getting his week off to a strong start, Fitzpatrick told the DP World Tour website: ‘This week is another opportunity to play well. That is why I am here.
‘To get off to a good start is always nice and hopefully I’ll kick on.
Russell Henley admires the view from the top of the leaderboard on the 18th tee
World No 1 Scottie Scheffler is the reigning FedEx Cup champion
‘It means the world to be a part of it. Outside of winning a major, it is normally the first thing on a goal sheet at the start of a Ryder Cup year.
‘We have got a great opportunity to do something we have not done in a while and obviously to be a part of that would be special.’
Marcel Siem, Matthias Schwab, Thomas Aiken and Haotong Li shared the lead after firing opening 66s in Sutton Coldfield.
Fitzpatrick was alongside Keita Nakajima on five under, one shot ahead of Scot Ewen Ferguson and Englishman Matt Wallace.