MacIntyre: First round was exactly what I wanted

Bob MacIntyre carded a three-under-par 67 in the opening round of The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, a performance he described as exactly what he needed.

The 29-year-old Scot recorded four birdies and a single bogey in his first competitive round at the venue. He started strongly by sinking a 46-foot birdie putt on the first hole, followed by another birdie at the second.

MacIntyre told BBC Scotland that he would change very little about his play, noting that while some putts didn't drop, it was a solid start. He emphasized the importance of hitting fairways and greens, with greens being the priority and staying out of bunkers.

The course at Royal Birkdale, a par-70, features several par-four holes that were originally par fives. MacIntyre expressed his dislike for such conversions, stating that it makes tee shots more difficult due to narrowed landing areas.

He described his strategy on holes like the 18th, where he plays short of the pot bunker on the left and accepts a longer approach, then tries to scramble for par. He believes bogeys are acceptable but double bogeys are costly, so avoiding pot bunkers is crucial.

MacIntyre, a two-time European Ryder Cup player, begins his second round on Friday at 12:25 BST. He said he will not think about golf until then, a mindset that has helped him recently. Earlier, he told BBC Radio 5 Live that there is potential for a low score but he is not worried about it.