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SAN ANTONIO – Akshay Bhatia. Brian Harman. Robert MacIntyre. The first two names are the past two winners of the Valero Texas Open. The latter is halfway to joining them in hoisting the trophy. What else do they all have in common? They’re all lefties. Is TPC San Antonio friendly to southpaws?
“I don't know. Obviously people left-handed have done well in the past, but I'm not worried about that one bit,” MacIntyre said. “I just, whatever, come and warm up in the morning and get after it.”
MacIntyre has gotten after it to the tune of a 36-hole aggregate of 14-under par 130, following up his opening-round 66 with an 8-under 64, the low round of the tournament, on Friday. That was good enough to build a four-stroke lead over Ludvig Aberg at the midway point of the final tournament for pros to qualify for the Masters. MacIntyre doesn’t have to worry about a Masters berth – he’s already exempt for next week – but he added the Valero to his schedule after missing in recent years because he prefers to play his way into form ahead of the majors.
“This was an adjustment for that reason. I wanted to be sharp, or sharper, going into Augusta,” he said. “Yes, I prefer playing my way in whether it's one, two, sometimes three events before a major.”
More: There are 18 left-handed golfers who have won on the PGA Tour
MacIntyre, who started on the back nine for his second round, charged out of the gate with a birdie at his first hole and a 7-foot eagle at 14. He finished with birdies on four of his final five holes on the more difficult front nine. MacIntyre and Aberg, his European Ryder Cup teammate, were grouped together for the first two rounds, and were able to feed off each other. Aberg shot his second straight 67 and is alone in second.
“We get on really well,” MacIntyre said. “It's good to play with good players and you can kind of build in a round.”
It’s hard for MacIntyre to complain after shooting 64 and making just one bogey through his first 36 holes. He raved about the Mexican food he’s been eating here – he went to La Hacienda – and was looking forward to getting acai bowls with his caddie as a post-round treat. Life is good off the course too. He’s a new dad, welcoming a baby boy, Findlay, who arrived in late January.
“I don’t know if life has ever been better,” he said in one of his post-round interviews.
Perhaps another victory would be next level. MacIntyre won twice on the Tour in 2024 – at the RBC Canadian Open and Genesis Scottish Open, his national open – but nothing since. Last year, he finished second at the U.S. Open and built a big 36-hole lead at the BMW Championship only to have Scottie Scheffler nip him at the end. On Friday the wind picked up and the weather forecast for the weekend is calling for some rain. Growing up in Scotland, where his father is a course superintendent, MacIntyre is used to battling the elements.
“It’s a massive attitude test,” MacIntyre said. “We’re all great players out here but if you’re not in the right frame of mind, it won’t happen. I feel like growing up in conditions helps and you know it’s never going to be perfect but today was almost perfect.”
What’s his game plan for the weekend?
“Keep trusting in what I’m doing and keep attacking,” he said. “It’s as simple as that.”
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Robert MacIntyre leads Valero Texas Open after 36 holes
Continue reading...
“I don't know. Obviously people left-handed have done well in the past, but I'm not worried about that one bit,” MacIntyre said. “I just, whatever, come and warm up in the morning and get after it.”
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MacIntyre has gotten after it to the tune of a 36-hole aggregate of 14-under par 130, following up his opening-round 66 with an 8-under 64, the low round of the tournament, on Friday. That was good enough to build a four-stroke lead over Ludvig Aberg at the midway point of the final tournament for pros to qualify for the Masters. MacIntyre doesn’t have to worry about a Masters berth – he’s already exempt for next week – but he added the Valero to his schedule after missing in recent years because he prefers to play his way into form ahead of the majors.
“This was an adjustment for that reason. I wanted to be sharp, or sharper, going into Augusta,” he said. “Yes, I prefer playing my way in whether it's one, two, sometimes three events before a major.”
More: There are 18 left-handed golfers who have won on the PGA Tour
MacIntyre, who started on the back nine for his second round, charged out of the gate with a birdie at his first hole and a 7-foot eagle at 14. He finished with birdies on four of his final five holes on the more difficult front nine. MacIntyre and Aberg, his European Ryder Cup teammate, were grouped together for the first two rounds, and were able to feed off each other. Aberg shot his second straight 67 and is alone in second.
“We get on really well,” MacIntyre said. “It's good to play with good players and you can kind of build in a round.”
It’s hard for MacIntyre to complain after shooting 64 and making just one bogey through his first 36 holes. He raved about the Mexican food he’s been eating here – he went to La Hacienda – and was looking forward to getting acai bowls with his caddie as a post-round treat. Life is good off the course too. He’s a new dad, welcoming a baby boy, Findlay, who arrived in late January.
“I don’t know if life has ever been better,” he said in one of his post-round interviews.
Perhaps another victory would be next level. MacIntyre won twice on the Tour in 2024 – at the RBC Canadian Open and Genesis Scottish Open, his national open – but nothing since. Last year, he finished second at the U.S. Open and built a big 36-hole lead at the BMW Championship only to have Scottie Scheffler nip him at the end. On Friday the wind picked up and the weather forecast for the weekend is calling for some rain. Growing up in Scotland, where his father is a course superintendent, MacIntyre is used to battling the elements.
“It’s a massive attitude test,” MacIntyre said. “We’re all great players out here but if you’re not in the right frame of mind, it won’t happen. I feel like growing up in conditions helps and you know it’s never going to be perfect but today was almost perfect.”
What’s his game plan for the weekend?
“Keep trusting in what I’m doing and keep attacking,” he said. “It’s as simple as that.”
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Robert MacIntyre leads Valero Texas Open after 36 holes
Continue reading...
