I just can't wait to get back - Robert MacIntyre ready for Masters title tilt on Augusta return

After two years of watching the Masters Tournament from afar, the wait to be back at Augusta National can’t end soon enough for Robert MacIntyre.

Now established in the top 20 in the Official World Golf Ranking, the Scot heads down Magnolia Lane amid high hopes – both internal and external.

Since finishing in a tie for 23rd on his second appearance at the Major Championship in 2022 – 12 months on from finishing tied 12th on his debut – he has taken his game to new heights.

From suffering heartbreak at the Genesis Scottish Open in 2023, to experiencing the magic of a Ryder Cup for the first time later that year, to winning twice on the PGA TOUR – at the RBC Canadian Open and then at his national open – in a matter of weeks last year, MacIntyre returns to Georgia with a memory bank of experiences.

Asked how he has found being away from the Masters stage - one he worked so hard to reach in the first place, he told the DP World Tour: “It’s not been nice, when it’s your favourite place.

"But it makes you work harder at it and it makes you focus more when you’re on the golf course.

"Obviously the two wins last year have made this happen. I just can’t wait to get back to be honest with you."

In the lead-up to the first Major Championship of the season, the 28-year-old has spoken of his belief he has never been better prepared for a tilt at winning the Green Jacket. It is easy to understand why.

After a three-event stretch that saw him impress over back-to-back weeks at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and then THE PLAYERS in Florida before returning to DP World Tour action for the Porsche Singapore Classic, MacIntyre has since been back home to Oban, with a training camp in Isleworth, Florida planned before heading to Augusta.

"You never know what is going to happen, but now playing in these (high calibre) fields every week, there’s not as much of a nervous energy, it’s not as much of a shock going there," he said.

"It’s more a case of I’m playing against the same guys bar a few, but the majority are just the same guys and you just go out there. I know my good golf can compete with anyone."

While he initially found life difficult in the early months of last year after becoming a dual member on the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR, he has found a formula for mitigating the challenge that comes with being a global golfer while still staying close to his roots.

Despite evergrowing scrutiny, the globe-trotting MacIntyre has more than held his own.

“I think it’s just the consistency of my game this year that has been a lot better," he said of his satisfaction with how he has performed so far in 2025.

"Driving the ball [well], hitting more fairways, the percentages are up which makes life a lot easier in hitting the greens.

"All the stats snowball from that, although the putting has not been as good, tee to green the stats have been far far better than last year."

So, with that in mind, MacIntyre is ready to "just roll the dice" if he can put himself in contention next week, which is in keeping with his positive gamestyle and has earned him so many fans over the years.

“I think it’s just the shot shape and having to move it both ways," said the three-time DP World Tour winner of why he genuinely feels he can win at Augusta.

“Obviously, I predominantly fade it for a left hander which with the modern equipment is a lot easier.

"But then just the tougher holes or a few of the funky holes set up nicely for a lefty for a mis-hit. Like 12, if you mis-hit it clean, short left, it catches the green, if you pull it it catches back right whereas vice versa for a right hander it is long left and in trouble, short right it's in the water."

Having made the cut on each of his first ten Major starts, history suggests he is a player made for the big occasison.

While he admits to being "hopeless" with recalling records and memories from yesteryear at golf's biggest championships, MacIntyre has long sought to learn from his peers as he bids to emulate Sandy Lyle as just the second Scotsman to win the Masters.

"[Sandy] always told us about certain shots," he said. "I message him and his wife quite often to be honest, just to see how they are and about normal life chat to be honest.

"I have learned a lot, not just through Sandy but Patrick Reed [2018 Masters winner] as well. When I was there for my first year [in 2022], he took us out for nine holes and gave us a couple of little snippets.

"I think that is what you have got to do. You have got to go and learn from these people that have done it before and make it on your own as well."

His record suggests he is a quick learner, highlighted by making a tournament high 21 birdies on his debut in 2022 - a feat which only further emboldens his belief.

"To do that at your first Masters isn’t normal so you know you can do that, you just [have to] go out there, minimise the mistakes and make the same amount of birdies and you’ll be there or thereabouts," he said.