Golfer Bob MacIntyre came close to Qatar Masters glory – with a new caddy and putter credited with helping him into a top ten finish.
The Glencruitten man had put himself in pole position to secure a third DP World Tour win with two opening rounds of 66, with new bag man Mike Burrow by his side.
Englishman Burrow worked with Marcus Armitage, Garrick Porteous and Mike Lorenzo-Vera before teaming up most recently with former Masters champion Danny Willett and he guided the Oban golfer as the heat cranked up in Qatar.
The decision to replace caddy Greg Milne after he helped Europe regain the Ryder Cup was a surprise, but a clue to the reasoning could be Burrow’s extensive experience on the PGA Tour, where Bob has admitted he could base himself next season as he closes in on one of the ten cards on offer through this year’s Race to Dubai on the DP World Tour.
A win in Qatar would have all but secured that prize, but he will still be content with a tie for sixth place. The 27-year-old’s driving and iron play was solid as always, but a change to his putter and putting stroke brought a new-found finesse to his play around the greens.
Sadly his fast start was followed by two closing rounds of 70 and 72 which saw him slip out of contention for the title on the final day. It went to Finnish golfer Sami Valimaki, who finished four strokes ahead of the Oban man.
When the dust settles, Bob will be happy with his showing and will know he currently occupies one of the qualifying spots on the PGA Tour card list with two tournaments left.
It puts him in pole position to make the leap across the Atlantic next season and base himself primarily on the star-studded American circuit, while returning to Europe to play in his chosen DP World Tour events.
He said: “I have my eye on one of the top ten cards for the PGA Tour. I’m close to being set I would say, but that’s why I went to Qatar, to pick up points. I’m trying to win golf tournaments but, if not, I want to pick up as many points as I can.
“It’s the same as when I was on the chase for the Ryder Cup. Turn up and pick up points, whether it’s one point or 400 points, they can all be vital at the end of the season. My goal is to play freely, play smart and see where it takes me.”
The Oban man certainly seemed to revel in the changes on his bag and to his putting set-up as he fired home six birdies on a bogey-free 66 in his first round in the Middle East.
He will be disappointed with his failure to go on and grab the tournament win, but a few slack shots and some glorious golf from those he was chasing left him with too much ground to claw back.
He is expected to line-up next in the Nedbank Golf Challenge, which tees off at the Gary Player Country Club in South Africa on November 9.
On the caddy change, Bob added: “Greig and I had a great run after teaming up again. I went back to what worked in the past for a wee while and it was great, but I just needed that change again.
“I’d been struggling a wee bit with the putting leading up to the Ryder Cup and wasn’t at my best on the greens so I’ve changed my putter and my stroke a little and the ball seems to be rolling nicely as a result.”