Robert MacIntyre was delighted with his start to the D+D REAL Czech Masters as he and several other Ryder Cup hopefuls all rose to the challenge to impress Luke Donald.
MacIntyre is the man in possession of the final automatic Ryder Cup spot on the European Points List, and made a statement that he intends to stay there with a round of 66 in front of captain Donald in Prague.
“I’m delighted with the round,” MacIntyre said after his round. “I was hoping for that after last week. I felt like I drove it well, iron play was good and I putted decent. I’ve got a lot on my mind, a lot going on and I’ve just got to keep fighting.”
A win for MacIntyre, along with none of his rivals finishing in the top five, would clinch that automatic spot for the Scotsman in the European side, but there are plenty of players lining up to challenge at Albatross Golf Resort.
Several Ryder Cup hopefuls are playing alongside Donald and three of his vice-captains – Nicolas Colsaerts and Francesco and Edoardo Molinari – who are all playing the Czech Masters.
Alexander Bjork is down in 20th on the European Points List but is obviously on the captain’s radar as he was also playing alongside Donald – and made the most of his chance to finish with four straight birdies as he shot 65.
“It was really fun,” Bjork said. “Luke is a great player and a player looked up to when I was younger. It was fun playing with him.
“We’re getting close (to the Ryder Cup) but I’m just trying to focus, like I have done all season, on what I should do with my game. I’m still doing that and that’s what I should do.”
How did Ryder Cup hopefuls play in Prague?
Nicolai Hojgaard – 65
Francesco Molinari had to have been impressed with the Dane’s round of 65 that contained six birdies and an eagle with just one bogey.
Hojgaard ranked second in the field for both driving distance and greens in regulation in round one – that’s a winning combination in any format.
Yannik Paul – 66
The German is in fourth just behind MacIntyre in qualification and matched the Scotsman’s effort with a flawless 66 of his own – capped off by holing out from the sand at the last.
You suspect he has to qualify to get in and he’s still in there…
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