DP World Tour star with Ryder Cup on line FORCED OUT of Italian Open
Defending Italian Open champion Robert MacIntyre has been forced to WD due to injury.
Robert MacIntyre's aspirations to make the European Ryder Cup team for the first time this season took a further dent as he was forced to withdraw from his title defence at the Italian Open.
MacIntyre, 26, recently admitted a need to address 'serious problems' in order for him to play his way into Luke Donald's thinking for a debut place at the Ryder Cup.
After three fairly impressive weeks on the DP World Tour with a string of top-10 finishes, MacIntyre was unfortunately forced to withdraw from this week's Italian Open, which is being staged on this year's Ryder Cup course Marco Simone.
ANNOUNCEMENT....
It's with a heavy heart that @robert1lefty has had to withdraw from the defence of his #DS80OpendItalia title
A niggling back strain that started at the beginning of the week just restricting things too much to continue
— Bounce (@bouncespmgt) May 5, 2023
MacIntyre suffered a back injury following an opening 73 that left him 10 strokes off the pace.
Gutted to withdraw this morning from the @ItalianOpen with a back strain. Hopefully nothing too serious. Now for a week of rest before the PGA Championship. pic.twitter.com/HRBwokBOWt
— Robert MacIntyre (@robert1lefty) May 5, 2023
The Scot took to Twitter to reveal he was "gutted" at having to withdraw from the tournament he won in a playoff over US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick.
He will now hope to recover in time for the US PGA Championship in two weeks' time.
MacIntyre is currently 10th (European Points List) and 11th (World Points List) in the Ryder Cup standings.
That means he is just on the outside looking in as things stands as only the top three from each list will automatically qualify for Donald's team.
Donald will then have six captain's picks, which will be made just before the Ryder Cup starts in September.
Will Robert MacIntyre make the 2023 European Ryder Cup team?
— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) April 18, 2023
MacIntyre is currently 91st in the Official World Golf Rankings.
He has won twice on the DP World Tour.
Matthieu Pavon remains out in front at the Italian Open after two rounds on 9-under par.
Julien Guerrirer and Adrian Otaegui are tucked closely in behind on 7-under par, with Poland's Adrian Meronk a further stroke back on 6-under par.
Meronk would seemingly have a strong outside chance of a pick in Donald's team.
