Scottish golfer Robert MacIntyre is struggling in major tournaments this season, and former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley believes the reason lies off the course.
MacIntyre, 29, missed consecutive cuts at the Masters and PGA Championship, followed by an early exit at the Memorial Tournament.
This contrasts with his runner-up finish at last year's U. S.
Open behind J. J.
Spaun.
Speaking ahead of the upcoming U. S.
Open at Shinnecock Hills, McGinley said MacIntyre's issues are not technical but related to life adjustments after the birth of his first child.
“Where is he at the moment?
I don't think he's got a golf issue going on at the moment, I think he's got life going on...
as Jack Nicklaus used to say, life gets in the way and you've got to deal with it,” McGinley said.
MacIntyre and his partner Shannon welcomed their son Findlay earlier this year, just before the Masters at Augusta National.
“He's just had a baby a few months ago, just before the Masters... it's not derailed him, but it's an adjustment in your life.
What happens off the course happens on it, and I think he's going through that at the moment,” McGinley added.
MacIntyre acknowledged the impact during an April media day for the Genesis Scottish Open, saying he is learning to navigate life differently.
“It's about trying to navigate life a little bit differently,” MacIntyre said. “I think the last couple of weeks has been a massive learning curve for me.”
Despite the slump, MacIntyre showed signs of recovery at the RBC Canadian Open, shooting a third-round 67 to sit four strokes behind leader Jackson Suber.
McGinley expressed confidence in MacIntyre's ability to bounce back, citing his competitive nature and links course experience.
“I think he's a dogged competitor. I think he's got a huge heart.
There was a reason why he was played down the order on the last day of the singles in the Ryder Cup,” McGinley said.
“We have a lot of belief in him. He loves the fight.”
McGinley noted that the first child brings the biggest disruption, with subsequent children being less impactful.
“It's a huge addition having your first child in particular.
When you get to your second, speaking from experience, second and third, it's not as huge a change as the first one is,” he said.
Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee added that performance fluctuations are natural in a professional career.
“Yeah, there's obviously ebb and flow to a career and it's just the nature of the game,” Chamblee said.
“You can't always be on heading into the four major championships. That's the part that luck plays in winning a major championship.”
MacIntyre will next compete at Shinnecock Hills as the lone Scottish representative in the 126th U. S.
Open, before preparing for the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
