"It's a shame, but it's the truth": U.S. Open hopeful reveals he'd happily quit PGA Tour

Robert MacIntyre says he would happily leave the PGA Tour but does not believe it is a viable option at present if he is to pursue his childhood ambition of winning a major and continuing to represent Europe in the Ryder Cup.

The Oban man may be considered as a trendy pick to win the gold medal at this week's U.S. Open at famed Shinnecock Hills given only an inspired performance in the closing stages of last year's championship by J.J. Spaun denied the Scot a first major win. 

He ended the year inside the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking and helped Europe secure Ryder Cup victory in hostile territory at Bethpage Black in New York last September

But so far this year, there have been more lows than highs - with the 29-year-old only registering three top-five finishes on the PGA Tour. 

He unravelled at the Masters, shooting rounds of 80 and 71 to miss the cut, and hit the headlines for the entirely the wrong reasons.

Another exit at the halfway stage followed at the PGA Championship. 

It has been a sharp and noticeable decline, with many pundits speculating the reasons why. 

In an interview with The Times of London ahead of the U.S. Open, MacIntyre indicated that there have been a few things on his mind.

"I love home," he told the publication, adding that he recently told the DP World Tour's chief executive that he would love nothing more than playing a full-time schedule in Europe so he could be closer to home. 

"Playing in Belgium, playing in Spain, places I just love going, but you just can't.

"If you want to play in major championships and Ryder Cups you can't do it from Europe. 

"You've got to do it from the elevated events out here. It's a shame, but it's the truth."

MacIntyre said that picking up just one of golf's biggest prizes may be enough to fulfil him. 

But he knows that isn't really the truth of the matter.

"The problem with the game of golf is there’s always something to chase," he added. 

"If you win one major you'd probably go, 'Can I get the grand slam now', whereas if I win a major championship I can tap away.

"It’s just a dream. I played the game because I loved it. It’s a job now, but I’m just here to try and achieve a dream of mine. 

"It's closer than ever. I would happily win a major and then play the DP World Tour if that's the way it came to me."

"He'll settle down..."

Former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley is a big fan of MacIntyre's. 

In a media call ahead of the U.S. Open, the 59-year-old said he doesn't believe MacIntyre has a golf issue going on at the moment. 

"I think he's got a life going on," McGinley said, alluding to the fact the golfer and his partner, Shannon, recently became parents.

"He's a dogged competitor," said McGinley. "He's got a huge heart. 

"There was a reason he was played down the order on the last day of the singles. We have a lot of belief in him.

"He loves the fight. I'm a huge admirer of his game. He's a wonderful putter, he's won on links courses and growing up in Scotland, he's very familiar with the kind of conditions at Shinnecock Hills.

"I don't think he's got a golf issue going on at the moment, I think he's got life going on. 

"As Jack Nicklaus used to say, life gets in the way and you've got to deal with it.

"He's just had a baby a few months ago, just before the Masters... it's not derailed him, but it's an adjustment in your life.

"He'll settle down, he'll figure that out, and he'll come back again. 

"His form has not been what we would have expected the last two or three months, and I think that's the reason why."