Robert MacIntyre defends decision to skip Memorial Tournament

Robert MacIntyre has defended his decision not to play in the Memorial Tournament, insisting that it was the right decision to prepare for next week’s US Open.

The 27-year-old won his maiden PGA Tour title on Sunday at the RBC Canadian Open, earning himself a spot in the field for this week’s $20million hosted by 18-time major champion Jack Nicklaus.

However, he decided to pass on that opportunity, preferring instead to travel home to Oban, on the west coast of Scotland.

Whilst many have endorsed that decision, others have not, some even going so far as to suggest skipping the tournament demonstrates a lack of ambition.

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MacIntyre, though, disagrees, insisting that he needed a week off after a long stretch of tournaments running back-to-back, particularly with another major looming large on the horizon.

“I actually miscounted the tournaments that I’d played when I did a press conference last week,” he said. “That was actually week six. And it’s been a good six weeks.

“The mental aspect of that six-week stretch was high and then obviously winning last week was an even bigger high, so if I played Memorial, the US Open and the Travelers, that would have been nine weeks in a row.

“Not many players would play nine weeks in a row, except probably me, the madman.”

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He added: “But there was no disrespect [intended] for Jack’s event. This was all about what was right for me.

“I mean, the fifth week, Colonial, I thought that was even a step too far after having obviously been in with a chance to win at Myrtle Beach, having an outside chance at the PGA Championship.

“So me and my team, we just thought it was the right thing to pull back, have a week off. It could have been any event. Yes, I get that it’s an elevated event, and it’s $20million or whatever it is.

“But does preparing right for the US Open not show ambition? That’s for you to decide.”

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor