Scotland’s Robert McIntyre said Pinehurst, site of this year’s U.S. Open, was “the toughest course I’ve ever seen.”
MacIntyre is in great form after winning the Canadian Open two weeks ago but expects a tough challenge on the legendary North Carolina course.
In the past three U.S. Opens played on the resort’s No. 2 course, only four players have finished under par, in part because of the turtle-back greens that reject all but the most precise approaches.
“It’s a complex of greens. I’ve never played on a 40-yard green but you’d probably have about 15 yards of space to hit,” he told BBC Sport.
“If you hit it 15 yards outside, you’re off the green and you’re in a scary situation sometimes. It’s about controlling the ball and being patient.”
“But if it’s tough for me, it’s tough for everybody. I just need to go into this week with a good attitude and see what happens in the end.”
“This is a golf course that can beat you, but it can also reward you.”
MacIntyre will have new caddie Mike Barrow with him this week after his father served as his caddie for just one successful tournament in Canada.
Dougie returned to his job as greenkeeper at Glencruyten three days after his win at Hamilton Golf and Country Club, while his son returned to Scotland to celebrate his first PGA Tour victory.
“It was my sixth week in a row and if I had played last week it would have been my nine weeks in a row on a tough golf course,” the 27-year-old explained.
“And I wanted to share something special with people who are really important to me.
“I meet great people when I travel, but no one cares about me the way my family and friends do.
“There aren’t many wins. I wanted to celebrate with the people who helped me get to this point, the people who are really important in my life.”
“So I spent some time with my family and on Friday night I had friends and family over to the golf course for drinks.”
Ryder Cup players are due to tee off at 12:18 BST in the second round of the US Open on Friday, meaning Scotland’s footballers will finish in time to watch their Euro 2024 opening match against Germany.
“I was hoping I’d win the draw. I haven’t checked the weather, I don’t care about that sort of thing. I just want to watch a football game,” McIntyre added.
“After the round, I’ll have a coffee and sit at home cheering on the players.
“Hopefully the boys can pull off an upset. They’ve got the players and the skill, they just need to execute it. It’s exciting for the whole country and to get to back-to-back Euros is starting to build momentum. It shows things are possible, so who knows what will happen.”
