Robert MacIntyre drops Rory McIlroy story ahead of 'free go' at PGA Tour
Robert MacIntyre has opened up on his relationship with Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry ahead of his first PGA Tour start with a full card at the Sony Open.
Robert MacIntyre has revealed he once felt uncomfortable having a locker next to Rory McIlroy's at PGA Tour events because "he's up there and I'm down here".
Although MacIntyre has played in PGA Tour events in the past, this week's Sony Open represents his first since securing a full card.
The Scot was among 10 DP World Tour players to secure their playing rights on the North American last season.
MacIntyre, who scored 2.5 points for Team Europe in September's Ryder Cup win over the U.S. in Italy, has vowed to put absolutely everything into making his PGA Tour career a success.
He has moved from his beloved hometown of Oban to Florida.
Speaking to reporters in Hawaii, MacIntyre described this year as his 'free go'.
If he doesn't play well enough, he can always go back to the DP World Tour, he said.
"You have been given a golden ticket, almost," he said. "The way the cards are working, if you play bad on the PGA Tour, you are still going to have the good card you had on the DP World Tour.
"It's almost like a free go. That's the way I see it. A free go at the PGA Tour. Go and get your card secured up by August and then come back to the DP World Tour and then, hopefully, you play well and secure that card.
"For me, it was like a free shot."
MacIntyre shared a locker room with the aforementioned McIlroy at the Ryder Cup.
Because lockers are handed out alphabetically, MacIntyre has frequently found himself alongside the four-times major champion.
The Ryder Cup changed things.
MacIntyre said: "When I was out here in 2021, mine, Rory's and Shane's [Lowry's] lockers are normally close to each other due to the alphabet and last names.
"I always got on well with Shane as we have the same background, pretty chilled out and not give too much of a c**p.
"But always when I met Rory, it was like: Oh, it's Rory. He's up there and I'm down here. Whereas, The Ryder Cup – everyone opened up. You know things about those things now you never thought you'd ever know.
"I think that's where you almost had to gain their respect and then you get their honest personality comes out.
"You get to know them on a different level. You are not just seeing their professional side, you start to see the personal side of all of these guys because we have become a team and we are trying to chase something down.
"I think that's a massive part of it in now – I can go into a locker room, Rory is there and you can have a personal chat, you can talk normally."
The Sony Open will be played over 11-14 January.
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