PGA Tour golfer on his Dad as caddie: “He’s out of his depth”

PGA Tour rookie Robert MacIntyre humorously remarked that his father was “a bit out of his depth” after stepping in as his caddie at the last minute for the RBC Canadian Open. Currently, MacIntyre is in a transitional phase, seeking a permanent caddie.

After the opening round at Hamilton Golf & Country Club, MacIntyre shared that his father, Dougie, responded to an urgent phone call on Saturday and traveled 3,500 miles from Oban to Ontario on Sunday morning. Despite the unusual circumstances, MacIntyre began the tournament impressively, recording a bogey-free six-under 70, placing him in a tie for fourth. Rory McIlroy trailed the leader, David Skinns, by four strokes.

MacIntyre also mentioned that this was the first time his father had caddied for him since he attended Tour School in 2018. Reflecting on the experience, he said, “I’m going through a transition between caddies. It was an emergency call on Saturday, and he stepped up to the plate. He’s a good golfer himself, but at this level, he’s a bit out of his depth. He did a great job and kept things simple. The numbers are what they are. Go and add a good shot to that number, and the results should be half decent.”

Additionally, MacIntyre confirmed his relationship status with Amanda Balionis before the first round.

Adapting to life on the PGA Tour has been challenging for the Scot, who has expressed a strong connection to the DP World Tour, describing it as more of a ‘family.’ “You come out here to the PGA Tour, and it’s all so unfamiliar. There’s less chatting,” he said.

MacIntyre has found support in fellow golfer Ryan Fox, another DP World Tour player who earned his PGA Tour card last season. “We’re kind of on our own a lot more,” he explained. “We’re with our families and friends as much as we can. But Ryan’s been a great help to me, especially with the Visa process. He managed to get me fast-tracked through a guy he knows. The European guys have really stuck together, trying to push each other on.”

MacIntyre concluded, “We’re all good players. It’s the game of golf. It’s no different out here. It’s just a different environment. We’re learning. If our good golf turns up, we can all compete out here.”