MacIntyre earns share of halfway lead
Published: 09:05 PM,May 14,2021 | EDITED : 08:05 PM,May 14,2021
Scotland's Robert MacIntyre lines up a putt during the second round at British Masters. -- Reuters
LONDON: Scotland's Robert MacIntyre has made plans for another late-night gaming session after carding a six-under-par 66 to take a share of the halfway lead at the British Masters on Thursday.
World number 45 MacIntyre, the highest-ranked player in the tournament, opened with five birdies in a row in testing conditions at The Belfry before his run ended with a bogey at the sixth after sending his drive into the water.
After dropping a stroke on the 12th hole, MacIntyre responded with three birdies on the back nine to join compatriot Calum Hill and veteran Richard Bland on seven under at the top of the leaderboard.
England's Bland carded a 69 to stay bogey free for the week, while Hill bogeyed the final hole in a 70.
Having finished tied-12th at the Masters last month, MacIntyre had all eyes on him on his return to the British soil.
'I was in free flow,' MacIntyre said of his blistering start. 'I hit a couple close but the putter was working. For me it felt beautiful.
'That could have been a crazy score. I still missed quite a few chances but that's golf.'
When asked if he had felt the pressure of being the top-ranked player in the field, the 24-year-old added: 'Not at all.
'After this (interview) I will hit a few balls, might grab room service and then I bring my PlayStation everywhere I go, so I will be on that for a couple of hours with my pals.
'That just keeps me away from golf as much as I can so that when I come out here and am competing it's 100 per cent focus.'
South Africa's Justin Harding and Frenchman Julien Guerrier were alongside 2018 champion Eddie Pepperell on six under, while tournament host Danny Willett dropped three strokes on his final four holes to slip four off the pace. -- Reuters
British Masters second-round scores
(GBR and IRL unless stated, par 72):
137 - Robert MacIntyre 71, 66; Calum Hill 67, 70; Richard Bland 68, 69
138 - Justin Harding (RSA) 69, 69; Eddie Pepperell 70, 68; Julien Guerrier (FRA) 72, 66
139 - Matthieu Pavon (FRA) 68, 71
140 - Bernd Wiesberger (AUT) 68, 72; Andy Sullivan 69, 71; Guido Migliozzi (ITA) 68, 72; Jordan Smith 71, 69; David Coupland 71, 69; Lee Slattery 72, 68; Louis de Jager (RSA) 68, 72; Richard Mansell 69, 71
141 - Danny Willett 69, 72; Chris Wood 69, 72; Mikko Korhonen (FIN) 70, 71; Matthias Schwab (AUT) 66, 75; Adria Arnaus (ESP) 69, 72; Richie Ramsay 70, 71; James Morrison 68, 73; Paul Dunne 72, 69; Joel Stalter (FRA) 69, 72; Laurie Canter 70, 71
World number 45 MacIntyre, the highest-ranked player in the tournament, opened with five birdies in a row in testing conditions at The Belfry before his run ended with a bogey at the sixth after sending his drive into the water.
After dropping a stroke on the 12th hole, MacIntyre responded with three birdies on the back nine to join compatriot Calum Hill and veteran Richard Bland on seven under at the top of the leaderboard.
England's Bland carded a 69 to stay bogey free for the week, while Hill bogeyed the final hole in a 70.
Having finished tied-12th at the Masters last month, MacIntyre had all eyes on him on his return to the British soil.
'I was in free flow,' MacIntyre said of his blistering start. 'I hit a couple close but the putter was working. For me it felt beautiful.
'That could have been a crazy score. I still missed quite a few chances but that's golf.'
When asked if he had felt the pressure of being the top-ranked player in the field, the 24-year-old added: 'Not at all.
'After this (interview) I will hit a few balls, might grab room service and then I bring my PlayStation everywhere I go, so I will be on that for a couple of hours with my pals.
'That just keeps me away from golf as much as I can so that when I come out here and am competing it's 100 per cent focus.'
South Africa's Justin Harding and Frenchman Julien Guerrier were alongside 2018 champion Eddie Pepperell on six under, while tournament host Danny Willett dropped three strokes on his final four holes to slip four off the pace. -- Reuters
British Masters second-round scores
(GBR and IRL unless stated, par 72):
137 - Robert MacIntyre 71, 66; Calum Hill 67, 70; Richard Bland 68, 69
138 - Justin Harding (RSA) 69, 69; Eddie Pepperell 70, 68; Julien Guerrier (FRA) 72, 66
139 - Matthieu Pavon (FRA) 68, 71
140 - Bernd Wiesberger (AUT) 68, 72; Andy Sullivan 69, 71; Guido Migliozzi (ITA) 68, 72; Jordan Smith 71, 69; David Coupland 71, 69; Lee Slattery 72, 68; Louis de Jager (RSA) 68, 72; Richard Mansell 69, 71
141 - Danny Willett 69, 72; Chris Wood 69, 72; Mikko Korhonen (FIN) 70, 71; Matthias Schwab (AUT) 66, 75; Adria Arnaus (ESP) 69, 72; Richie Ramsay 70, 71; James Morrison 68, 73; Paul Dunne 72, 69; Joel Stalter (FRA) 69, 72; Laurie Canter 70, 71