Scotsman Robert MacIntyre might be making his tournament debut this week in Portugal but he’ll be going on the offensive as he bids for a second European Tour title.
The world number 61 is coming in fresh from two weeks off after an indifferent run of form but MacIntyre is hoping that a change of tac to a more aggressive approach will translate to the fairways of Dom Pedro at the first time of asking.
“I want to win every week I turn up,” said MacIntyre, who tied 53rd two weeks ago at the Andalucia Masters.
“I’ve got goals that I’ve set and there are little things I’m trying to work on. This week is the week where you’ll see it on TV, hopefully – if I’m playing well. To be more aggressive from certain numbers. It’s come into my golf because some of the golf tournaments I’ve played this year where you’ve had to be more defensive than offensive. I’m trying to flip the switch and become more offensive. There’s little things in my game I’m still trying to work on and this week is a big week for that.”
Despite going into the event with high expectations, MacIntyre has committed to the final three tournaments on this year’s European Tour calendar so he won’t be putting any extra pressure on himself for immediate success.
“Not so much pressure. There’s a lot of expectation on me from everywhere. Myself, especially,” he added.
“I’m expecting a lot from my game. I feel like my game is there. I just need to not worry about consequences, not think about what could happen and think about what can happen. That’s one of the main things for me, just try and be more positive. Everyone who knows me knows I’m not the most positive human being, but we’re getting there and trying to change that.”
Meanwhile, past champion Pádraig Harrington and Tour winner Jonathan Caldwell will look to initiate a late season push into the top-50 in the Race to Dubai standings at this week’s Portugal Masters.
Looking forward to @PortugalMasters Thursday tee time 8am. @EuropeanTour pic.twitter.com/xkUNWI3H1S
— Padraig Harrington (@padraig_h) November 3, 2021
As it stands, Harrington sits in 68th spot from just 10 starts on the points list, 18 places shy of the top-50 with Jonathan Caldwell in 97th place having largely struggled since enjoying his first Tour victory at the Scandinavian Mixed back in June.
And in good news for Irish golf, Cormac Sharvin has graduated from the reserve list into the starting field this week where he’ll look to make a late and necessary assault on the Race to Dubai rankings from his position of 166th on the money-list.
Irish tee-times:
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