A lot has changed for Robert MacIntyre since he was last at Royal Portrush for The Open Championship.
In 2019, the Scot made a big impression on his Major Championship debut over the County Antrim links with a tie for sixth during a memorable rookie season on the DP World Tour.
Since winning the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award that year, after a campaign that included two runner-up finishes among seven top tens, MacIntyre has become one of golf’s international leading lights.
After becoming a DP World Tour winner in Cyprus in 2020 and then adding a second victory in 2022, he appeared at a Ryder Cup for the first time in 2023, before enjoying an unforgettable 2024 that featured wins at the Genesis Scottish Open on home soil and at the RBC Canadian Open on the PGA TOUR.
In 2019, @robert1lefty finished T6 on his Major debut at Royal Portrush 🙌#TheOpen pic.twitter.com/lnCNVSbUkS
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) July 15, 2025
But while he has taken his game to new heights over the last six years, establishing himself within the world’s top 20, the 28-year-old is approaching this week with the unfazed mindset that he adopted back then.
"This week's completely different, I still feel like I've got no real care," he said.
"Yeah, people may have picked me to win it, but to be honest, there are so many guys this week that can win this tournament.
"I'm going to go out there and enjoy playing Royal Portrush again and give it my absolute best, and that's all I can guarantee."
A month on from his career-best Major finish at the U.S. Open where he finished runner-up to JJ Spaun after being the only player to break par in the final round, MacIntyre is relishing being back at what he describes as one of his favourite links layouts.
"It's how the golf course flows. It's not so much the holes," added MacIntyre who played the venue as an amateur in the Home Internationals.
"It's not nine holes one way, nine holes the other way.
"There is everything on this golf course visually. It's obviously enclosed by the dunes either side. So you've got visuals off the tee.
"I love coming back here. The fans are unbelievable.
"I'm going to prepare the same as I've tried to every week. Going to try and win The Open."
Riding high on the Race to Dubai Rankings, and in an automatic qualifying spot for Luke Donald's Ryder Cup team, MacIntyre is proud to be part of a strong contingent of European golfers competing on the global stage.
"I think it's absolutely brilliant," he said. "For me I've had a good spell in the US to get me right up there, but when you look at the European winners on Tour this year, it's as good as ever.
"The team's going to be ready to go, and Bethpage is going to be tough, obviously, with the crowd, but it's going to be the same as Rome that we're in it together.
"As long as we've got each other, it doesn't matter what else is going on."
MacIntyre joined Open debutants Daniel Young and amateur pair Cameron Adam and Connor Graham in an-all Scottish group for a practice round on Tuesday.
