Robert MacIntyre is delighted to bounce back into form at just the right time as the battle for a place at next month's Ryder Cup ramps up at the D+D Real Czech Masters.
The Scot currently sits third in the European Points List and with only two events left before the cut-off, MacIntyre knows that he needs to perform in front of Team Europe Captain Luke Donald, who is his playing partner for the first two rounds at Albatross Golf Resort.
There is one place up for grabs on the European Points List, with Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm already securing the top two spots, and the contenders have made the trip to Prague, with seven of the top ten in the field this week.
Only 90.67 points separate MacIntyre and Germany's Yannik Paul, who sits in fourth on the list, but the two time DP World Tour winner showed he could handle the pressure as he carded a blemish-free 66 - three shots off leader Sami Välimäki
Starting on the back nine, MacIntyre began with a birdie-birdie start before adding another at the 15th from 17 feet. He tapped in to pick up another shot at the first before finishing his round with succesive eight foot gains for his six under score.
And after failing to make the cut at last week's ISPS HANDA World Invitational presented by AVIV Clinics, MacIntyre is happy to shake the "rust off".
"Delighted with the round. I played reasonably solid. I was hoping for that after last week," MacIntyre said.
"I played just to try and get the rust off because I knew how important these two [events] were. I felt like I drove it well, iron play was good and I putted decent. Overall, decent.
"I don’t mind it [the warm weather]. I just have to take time and make sure everything’s dry. I enjoy playing in the heat, but once it gets over a certain temperature I struggle. Just now I’m used to it. I’ve got a lot on my mind, a lot going on and I’ve just got to keep fighting."
Paul, who like MacIntyre is looking to make his Ryder Cup debut in Rome, also held his nerve after carding a flawless first round of 66.
The German opened up with a birdie at the first before holing a 31 foot putt at the seventh to reach two under.
Three straight birdies from the ninth saw him jump up the leaderboard and his round finished with a brilliant hole out from the bunker at the last to move alongside with his Scottish rival.
"That was great," Paul said about his bunker shot on the last. "I was a bit upset after that shot, I wanted to hit a draw and got a bit too greedy and pulled it. The lie wasn’t great in the bunker. I would have taken par but a birdie is even better.
"I was in Arizona, where I live, the last four weeks and it was really hot there. But I played more than I’ve ever played, I think. I played 18 holes with a couple of friends almost every day with a cart. That helped me stay in the zone and help me stay on top of course management. I felt ready going into the week, it was a great start.
"We all get along really well. I joked with Rasmus that I think we play together every other week. We all get along really well, had a great time out and we all played really well as well."
Alexander Björk continued his fine 2023 Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex campaign to sit two adrift of Välimäki in Prague.
The Swede has the most top ten finishes of anyone this season with seven, which included a superb stretch between May and July where he recorded six in seven appearances.
Björk played alongside MacIntyre and Donald on Thursday, and the 33-year-old proved he was not overawed as he carded seven birdies in his 65, which including four in a row to finish his opening round.
"It was solid. Coming from four weeks at home, you never really know how the game is," he said. "But I thought it was good all day and I made a few extra birdies on the last four holes to make it even better. A good start.
"It was really fun. Luke is a great player and a player I looked up to when I was younger. It was fun playing with him.
"It was great and always fun to play well, we’re getting close but I’m just trying to focus, like I have done all season, on what I should do with my game. I’m still doing that and that’s what I should do."
