Ryder Cup star hints at lengthy golf break: "Potentially the end of my season"
The Ryder Cup star could step away from competitive golf for several months after falling short in his bid to defend his title at St Andrews.
European Ryder Cup star Robert MacIntyre has admitted he may take several months off after coming up short of successfully defending his title at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
The Scot finished six shots behind winner Adrian Meronk after rounds of 71, 65, 68 and 68 across Carnoustie, Kingsbarns and St Andrews.
MacIntyre's T6 finish saw him climb 18 places to 52nd in the Race to Dubai standings, but he could now step away from competitive golf for an extended period.
The Oban golfer has yet to decide whether he will feature in the DP World Tour's season-ending playoffs and suggested he does not intend to play another event during the regular season.
A top-70 finish in the standings would guarantee MacIntyre a place in the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship, although three regular-season events remain and his position could still change.
He told reporters his next appearance could therefore come at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas in December, with the tournament hosted by Tiger Woods.
Speaking after his final round at St Andrews, MacIntyre said: "I'll have to literally wait and see.
"See what's going on in the Middle East, then I'll make a decision if I'm in the tournament.
"If I'm in the tournament, I'll make a decision.
"Right now, before I played today, I'll probably play Bahamas as a little kind of see how my work's been getting on. We'll make a decision at that time."
There is currently uncertainty surrounding the upcoming DP World Tour events because of the ongoing situation in the Middle East.
Real Club de Golf Sotogrande in Spain has been identified as a potential alternative venue should any tournaments need to be relocated.
MacIntyre, who finished sixth in last season's standings, also acknowledged the difficulties of balancing his golf career with his life away from the course.
"I've just got that disaster in the locker right now, but you know what, this is potentially the end of my season right here," he added.
"So yeah, I feel like it's been a good year and a learning curve to try to manage life outside of golf and life on the golf course. But yeah, it's been a great year."
MacIntyre is one of several high-profile players at risk of missing the final two DP World Tour events before the Dunhill Links Championship.
Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin and his Ryder Cup team-mate, Viktor Hovland, are also battling to stay inside the crucial top-70 position.
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