Robert MacIntyre won’t be ‘legally able to drive’ to The Open as he celebrates Scotland win with trophy full of whisky
New Scottish Open champion Robert MacIntyre might need a helping hand getting to Royal Troon this week.
The Scot claimed a brilliant and emotional win at the Renaissance Club on Sunday and vowed to ‘celebrate hard’ despite the Open starting this Thursday.
MacIntyre delighted the home crowds by birdieing his final hole in North Berwick to beat Adam Scott to the prestigious title by one stroke.
And he was in the mood celebrate. “I think there might be a change of schedule,” MacIntyre said of his pre-planned Open press conference at 3pm on Monday.
“I don't think I'll be in a fit state to get to Troon. I don't think I'll be legally able to drive.
"I'm going to celebrate hard, and I'll pitch up [at Troon] when I tee the ball on Thursday, whatever time I tee off, I'll try to win the championship. There might be some alcohol still in the system, but I will try my best.”
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MacIntyre was due to speak to the media at Troon on Monday but suspiciously pushed his press conference back to Wednesday.
In totally unrelated news, he was also pictured alongside his dad on Sunday night with copious amounts of whisky in the Scottish Open trophy.
The victory came just twelve months on from heartbreak for the 27-year-old as Rory McIlroy beat him on the final hole of last year’s Scottish Open.
MacIntyre has made no secret of his desire to win his home event and joked: "I don't think I'll ever forgive him if I don't win a Scottish Open. If it's not a major championship, this is the one I want.
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"It was an incredible golf shot he hit. That was the winning shot, really. It was a good shot and it was a bit heartbreaking."
MacIntyre has enjoyed a stellar year, starring at the Ryder Cup before winning his maiden PGA Tour title at the Canadian Open last month.
Asked if he had spoken to McIlroy about their previous duel when they were teammates on Europe's Ryder Cup side in 2023 - two months after the Scottish Open - MacIntyre added: "I asked him one question at some point during the party.
"I had not spoken to him at all about it since the day it happened, and I always wanted to ask him about the putt (on 18). He thought he had missed it and it went in. So it just shows you, it doesn't have to be perfect for it to work out."
MacIntyre's Scottish Open title has added to his already-impressive CV while he’ll be eager to build upon his fine Open record this week too.
He added: “How I come down from this, I don't think I will.
“I think I will just try and ride the wave, and next week, yeah, it's Open Championship, that means, again, a lot to me.
“But you've got to celebrate the good times because it doesn't happen a lot.
“I've lost my voice from the scream that I let out.
“Last year was heartbreaking, but this year, it means everything. This is one that I said I wanted at some point in my career, and I got it today.”
The Open at Royal Troon will begin on Thursday and live commentary will be live on talkSPORT 2 from 7am.