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Robert MacIntyre returns to his home country this week as a conquering hero after winning the Scottish Open—not to mention, the Canadian Open—last year. But neither of those career-changing victories might have been possible if the lefty hadn’t righted a bad choice he made a couple years ago.
At his Wednesday pre-tournament press conference at The Renaissance Club, MacIntyre was asked if he’s “ever done anything rash”? And this was his response.
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“I have made one rash decision in the last, probably, four years, five years,” MacIntyre said. “That was when I was changing coach. Obviously was working with Simon. Change again. Done it two weeks and I remember Simon saying, “I think you’re firing the wrong man.” It was a breaking up the line while we were saying and he thought I didn’t hear it. And I phoned him two weeks later with my tail between my legs saying, ‘Simon, you’re right. Can I come back?’ And here we are still working together.”
The Simon that MacIntyre is referring to is English swing coach Simon Shanks. And aside from having an all-time golf name, he’s also been a great instructor for MacIntyre. Well, other than those couple of weeks a couple of years ago in the summer of 2023.
“That was a rash decision,” MacIntyre continued. “But in the long-term stuff, no. Everything’s between me, Stoddy, Dell, and the whole team around me. We sat down, we think about it, we look at stats, everything’s—that side of it is calculated, and we just try and go with a decision and live by it.”
At least, MacIntyre realised—and admitted—his mistake quickly. Because less than a year later, that partnership was working better than ever.
MacIntyre is currently No. 14 in the Official World Golf Ranking, and he’s one of the betting favourites at this week’s Scottish Open. So, don’t expect anymore coaching changes from him anytime soon.
Main Image: Ross Parker/SNS Group
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