Robert MacIntyre "does not give a ---- about what's going on" ahead of RBC Canadian Open title defence

PGA Tour star Robert MacIntyre was asked by a reporter to name one thing he likes about himself on the eve of his title defence at this week's RBC Canadian Open at TPC Toronto. 

It's fair to say the Scot did not hold back as his reply spoke volumes. 

MacIntyre, 28, admitted at the start of last season that he was struggling to adapt to life on the PGA Tour outside of an early career travelling the world on the DP World Tour. 

But with a strong mentality behind him and having proven himself on the world stage at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome, MacIntyre kept going and eventually won not once but twice in his first full season on the PGA Tour in 2024. 

MacIntyre memorably won his first PGA Tour title at the RBC Canadian Open with his father Dougie on the bag, and then little more than a month later won on home soil at the Genesis Scottish Open. 

On occasion over the past 12 months though, MacIntyre has been criticised by golf fans and analysts for his on-course behaviour.

MacIntyre said during the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship that St Andrews' famous Road Hole 17th needs "blowing up". 

DP World Tour pro Eddie Pepperell took aim at "whiney" MacIntyre following those comments. 

But no matter what people say about him, MacIntyre could not care less. 

"Most of time I don't give a... about what's going on," said an honest MacIntyre. 

"I don't really care about what -- I really don't care about other people's opinions, to be honest with you. 

"If you're not part of my team, not part of the inner circle, your opinion really doesn't matter to me.

"I think that's a massive thing, especially in the sport we play. I think it helps with, when you're trying to move forward, you're trying to dissect every part of the game to try and get better. I think, if you take too many opinions in that really aren't trying to help you, then, yeah, it doesn't help at all.

"I think something I like is I don't really care about what others think outside of my team and my friends or my family."

When pressed further to talk the strength of his mentality, MacIntyre admitted it's something he's always had since growing up in Oban, Scotland. 

"Look, I've always been different," continued the two-time PGA Tour winner. 

"I grew up in a small town on the West Coast of Scotland that I wasn't given everything. I was given a lot of stuff to try and achieve my dreams, but I wasn't given everything, and I just worked hard for it and I trusted what I do, and I still do that.

"When I'm changing people on my team, when I'm changing schedule on the fly during the year, like I played Dallas this year. I wasn't going to play Dallas until Thursday of the PGA. I just thought, you know what, my game's in a good spot. I feel like I'm building. I need to keep playing to build confidence, to build momentum. I go there, play well.

"It's just little things like that, I just feel like I can -- I don't make decisions easily. I really think them through, and even if I swing that back to the golf side of it, if one of my coaches is telling me to do something, I don't just do it. The first question is why, why am I doing this? And then we go from there.

"I've always been different, if I'm being honest with you. I still live life normally, but I've always been different in the way that I think and the way that I do things from amateur golf even up to where I am now."

MacIntyre won the RBC Canadian Open at a different venue 12 months ago at Hamilton Golf & Country Club.

This week's tournament is being staged on the North Course at TPC Toronto, also in Ontario. 

Rory McIlroy starts a warm tournament favourite as he goes in search of a third RBC Canadian Open title and a fourth win of the 2025 PGA Tour season.

McIlroy, 36, is making his first start in three weeks since shunning the media all four tournament days at the PGA Championship. 

The Northern Irishman will be speaking to the media after his Wednesday pro-am.