Robert MacIntyre Determined to Keep Going Up in the World

IT WOULD be all too easy to underestimate Robert MacIntyre. It would be a mistake. The unassuming Scot has broken into the world’s top 50 but he is not satisfied. The left-hander insists that there is no reason why he cannot now push on and reach the top 10.

You will recall that he finished third at the Dubai Desert Classic. For many, it would have represented a good week. But MacIntyre was so upset that he could barely bring himself to talk to the media afterwards. He is, however, now the world’s top-ranked left-hander.

"Breaking into the top 50 means everything; it's a stepping stone to where we're trying to go," he said. It means he now gets into all four majors and WGC events, tournaments that offer huge prize money and precious world ranking points. "I've just got to keep trusting in what I'm doing. I feel that I've got the right team around me to achieve what I want to and, if I can keep on trusting them and they keep on trusting me, I'll just shoot for the stars."

MacIntyre currently ranks higher than any other Scot and when asked about the possibility of reaching the top 10, he said: "I don't see any reason why not, but I've got a long, long way to go before that's achieved.

"I know that my good golf can stand up. I'm only 24, I've got a long career ahead and if I can keep producing good golf then honestly I couldn't put a number on it. It's been fun so far and hopefully we can just keep improving."

MacIntyre is well aware that being in the top 50 means he receives invitations to more prestigious tournaments and is aiming to secure his place at The Masters in April.

"That's been my target for the past year and a half," he said. "OK, I've jumped inside the top 50 in the world, but we've still got a few months to go before that's fully locked in."

Desert Classic winner Paul Casey, who got to see the Scot up close, revealed he would love to see MacIntyre in the European team at this year's Ryder Cup.

"If I don't play in big major tournaments like the Masters then, realistically, I'm not going to be on that team," MacIntyre admitted. "I know the tournaments I need to be playing in and I'm giving it every shot I can.”

You can be sure that European captain Padraig Harrington wants MacIntyre on his team.