Bob MacIntyre 'pretty happy' with his start to 2021 campaign in Abu Dhabi

Bob MacIntyre admitted he was “pretty happy” to start his 2021 campaign with a top-20 finish as he ended up alongside fellow Scots Stephen Gallacher and Scott Jamieson in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
Bob Macintyre signed off with a two-under-par 70 in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. Picture: Andrew Redington/Getty Images.Bob Macintyre signed off with a two-under-par 70 in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. Picture: Andrew Redington/Getty Images.
Bob Macintyre signed off with a two-under-par 70 in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. Picture: Andrew Redington/Getty Images.

The 24-year-old, who went into the $8 million Rolex Series event sitting 51st in the world rankings, signed off with a 70 to join Jamieson (70) and Gallacher (72) in finishing with six-under 282 totals.

“I would have taken top 20 at the start of the week,” said MacIntyre, who finished outside the top 60 on his only other appearance at Abu Dhabi Golf Club in 2019. “Obviously the game is a bit rusty, but overall I am pretty happy.”

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The Cyprus Showdown champion had a top-10 finish in his sights after picking up three shots in the first five holes before facing a bit of a grind for the remainder of the round.

“The conditions got windy towards the end, and I’ve just struggled on the fairways and with my irons when it’s started getting windy,” he added.

“When you start to mis-hit them, then you can’t get anywhere near your numbers and that’s what’s been happening.

“So I have a bit of work to do, but overall the game is in good shape.”

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Next up is the Omega Dubai Desert Classic starting on Thursday at Emirates Golf Club, where MacIntyre relished a tough test 12 months ago to finish in the top 10.

“I’m looking forward to going to Dubai because the more I play, the better I start playing and I hadn’t touched a club for six week,” he said.

“Also next week is another huge event, so looking forward to getting going.”

Jamieson covered the last seven holes in three-under to record a second successive top-20 finish in the event, with Gallacher also completing a solid start to his 25th European Tour campaign.

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The 46-year-old signed for two birdies and two bogeys in his last-day effort, signing for 13 pars in 14 holes from the fifth.

David Drysdale (73) finished on four-under, two better than Calum Hill (70), with Grant Forrest ending up on level-par after a closing 76.

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