Bob MacIntyre secured his PGA Tour card for 2024 but admitted he had mixed emotions after an up and down showing at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
Helped by his second place finish behind Rory McIlroy in the Genesis Scottish Open in July, the Oban man ended up in seventh spot in the battle for ten golden tickets to the coveted US circuit through the Race to Dubai Rankings.
It means he will be pressing the button on a move to base himself in Orlando next year after revealing that he believes the switch across the Atlantic is crucial to his dream of becoming a Major champion.
With previous good form in the bank across tournaments staged in the Middle East, the the 27-year-old admitted he was bitterly disappointed with his tie for 18th behind victor Dane Nicolai Hojgaard in the fifth and final Rolex Series event of the DP World Tour season.
His performance leaves him outside the world’s top 50 and running out of time to secure a Masters invitation before the first cut-off on 31 January.
Bob admitted to a serious flaw in his game that he needs to address if he is to make that leap from likely contender to regular top ten finisher as he prepares for a 7,500-mile flight to Brisbane to play in the Australian PGA Championship and next week’s Australian Open in Sydney.
And while he plans to catch up with family during the trip Down Under, he will know he has some serious work to do before signing off for Christmas to get onto the guest list for Augusta.
Addressing his poor finish on Sunday, as his short game let him down, the Glencruitten man said: “It was terrible to be honest.
“I must be one of the best wedge players from probably 70 yards to 110 and then I am one of the worst from 110 to 135 – and it showed today. When I was in position in a certain range, I was deadly. When I was outside that range, I was absolutely useless.”
The sweet-toothed golfer did admit that securing the coveted PGA Tour card brings with it an unexpected bonus.
He added: “I’m delighted to have finally got the card under my belt and I can press ahead with plans now. I’m also looking forward to being able to get caramel M&Ms!
“I sat down with the team and looked at what I want to achieve in golf. Oban has got me so far and I believe you can do anything you want from being from Oban as long as you get the right support. But I feel like to get to my next goal, I’ve got to do things up a level.
“I’m going to sacrifice a lot trying to chase the next proper goal. I’m ready to give it everything I’ve got as I don’t want to one day retire from golf and have any regrets.”
“I feel this is the next step I’ve got to take. Yes, there are sacrifices, but everything is in place to try and combat the feelings I am going to have.”