'It was almost sheer disbelief we did it with him on the bag'

Few golfers tin person made a much tortuous travel to nan apical than Scotland’s Bob MacIntyre.

The home-loving lefty has struggled pinch nan American measurement of life successful his first afloat play connected nan PGA Tour, but now - aft recruiting dada Dougie arsenic an emergency caddie - he is celebrating nan biggest triumph of his life astatine past week’s Canadian Open.

As nan tears flowed successful nan aftermath of this breakthrough triumph connected nan US-based tour, MacIntyre could beryllium forgiven for reflecting connected nan measurement he has go a victor astatine nan highest level without ever forgetting his roots.

It is an understatement to opportunity that his delightful location municipality of Oban is somewhat tucked away. No travel to that distant portion of Scotland’s westbound seashore is straightforward.

Overlooking nan Isle of Kerrera and beyond that Mull, nan municipality lies 88 miles from Glasgow Airport. They are tricky roads and nan travel is 2 and half hours connected a bully day.

Throughout his formative years arsenic a starring amateur and past arsenic a successful pro connected nan DP World Tour, nan 27-year-old has ever needed to spell nan other mile.

After winning PGA Tour status, MacIntyre sensibly group up a guidelines successful Orlando - but nan location of Disney is nary Oban. He freely admits he quickly felt homesick.

That’s why earlier this outpouring he flew location for 3 weeks pinch family and his shinty playing mates.

Indeed, by past playing this robust shape of section lucky he sustained a enarthrosis wounded that threatened his return to nan PGA Tour astatine nan extremity of April. But he collaborated Thomas Detry to decorativeness successful a stock of eighth spot astatine nan Zurich Classic successful New Orleans.

Mentally, if not wholly physically, he was recharged and past challenged astatine past month’s US PGA Championship wherever he again vanished eighth acknowledgment to a spectacular eagle astatine nan last.

Then astatine Colonial he missed nan trim and divided pinch his latest caddie Scott Carmichael. He goes done bagmen astatine a complaint of knots.

That led to nan emergency telephone to his greenskeeper begetter and, famously, Dougie answered nan call.

A flurry of visa issues ensued and dada turned up astatine nan Hamilton people without due credentials. But, eventually, he was wearing nan bib to thief a subordinate nary 1 knows better.

Dougie was nan man who had introduced Bob to sport. To his beloved shinty, but - of people - besides to golf. They lived complete nan roadworthy from nan Glencruitten people wherever dada works.

They would stock evening games astir nan 4 holes adjacent to their location and arsenic MacIntyre progressed, erstwhile finances allowed, truthful nan epic journeys would commencement to foster a burgeoning amateur career.

“I couldn't play successful play tournaments arsenic a inferior because we couldn't spend it,” MacIntyre reflected aft his Canadian victory.

“I deliberation that made me. That makes maine conflict and ne'er springiness up.

“[My parents] gave maine nan opportunity, but ne'er was I spoon fed, I was ever fighting for each spot of it.”

And ne'er has location been a much due bagman to assistance nan biggest triumph of a profession to date. MacIntyre knows his dad’s trim of his £1.3m winnings successful Ontario will now salary disconnected his parents' mortgage.

“He was a caddie for nan week, but astatine nan extremity of nan day, he's my dad,” MacIntyre said. “The emotion astatine nan end, it was conscionable almost retired of sheer disbelief that we did it pinch him connected nan bag.

“I mean, nan magnitude of activity that nan caddies do week-in, week-out, which is an unbelievable help. And past I conscionable do it pinch my dad.”

Holding a 5 changeable lead pinch 7 holes to play, that comfortable advantage was soon whittled distant by nan chasers. But MacIntyre, an unbeaten debutant astatine past year’s Ryder Cup, showed awesome fortitude down nan stretch.

“I had a hellhole of a conflict successful me,” he said. “I've been moving hard, really hard, connected nan intelligence broadside of nan crippled because erstwhile we picked isolated my crippled of golf, we realised that nan crippled of play isn't nan problem.

“I'm nan problem. I've worked really difficult astatine that pinch my squad and I've said it astir apt for nan past 4 aliases 5 weeks that nan intelligence side's truthful important to me.

“When it wasn't going well, my dada conscionable said, 'what person you been moving on, what are you doing?' and I holed that putt connected 10 and we conscionable switched into gear.”

This was MacIntyre’s 5th tourney successful a row. No wonderment partying backmost location successful Scotland this week is simply a greater attraction than playing nan large money Memorial tourney for which he is now eligible.

The US Open lies successful hold nan pursuing week astatine Pinehurst. He will spell location pinch a decent showing successful nan past awesome arsenic good arsenic this triumph down him.

The agelong and winding travel of his young life is paying rich | dividends. He is answering questions that person lingered and tin attack nan nutrient of nan play play much assured than ever earlier - sloppy of who will beryllium connected his bag.

“It conscionable shows that I tin compete astatine nan apical level,” he stated. “I ever knew I could, but until you do it, you really don't know.”