Former Ryder Cup captain reveals surprising Open pick: "I wouldn't rule out that he could win there"
Former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley says he believes Scotland's Robert MacIntyre is among the very best in the world now.
Former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley says he would not be surprised if Robert MacIntyre clinches The Open this summer.
MacIntyre - who made Ryder Cup debut when the biennial matches were played in Italy two years ago - now has some big victories on his resume.
The Scot claimed his home Open in dramatic circumstances last year just a month removed from winning his first PGA Tour title in Canada.
MacIntyre missed the cut at the 2025 Masters but McGinley believes the 28-year-old is among the very best.
"With big titles behind them - against strong fields - a major is not that big a leap for him," McGinley told BBC Sport Scotland.
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"It didn't happen at Augusta, but he's certainly in that upper echelon of people being considered to win a major.
"Should he do so, it would not be that big a surprise. Two years ago, it would have been a big jump. But he's closed the gap to the best players in the game.
"He's got a swashbuckling style. He doesn't play with a lot of fear. He is one of those guys that you will consider as a potential winner in every major."
MacIntyre went into The Masters fancying his chances given Augusta National tends to suit the eyes of left-handers.
He missed the cut after shooting two rounds of 75.
MacIntyre complained that his putter didn't turn up and felt as though he didn't hole anything outside of four feet all week.
He was using a Scotty Cameron putter at The Masters but switched to a TaylorMade Spider Tour putter at the RBC Heritage.
McGinley continued: "He reminds me a bit of when Willett won The Masters.
"He had won in Dubai against a great field a couple of months before, so although it was a bit of a surprise win for the US audience, he was on the cusp of the world top-10 at the time.
"I'm a great believer in validation and results - you just don't walk onto the range or into a tournament in a tight situation and all of a sudden have this incredible belief that you need to win a major.
"You've got to have stepping stones where your confidence has been built and your game is being validated - you do that by winning and performing in rarefied atmospheres and MacIntyre's got that. Willett had it before he won at Augusta.
"I think MacIntyre's got a real belief he's heading in that direction."
McGinley said he believes an Open would be his best chance to secure a major.
The 153rd Open Championship will be played at Royal Portrush in July.
"I wouldn't rule out that he could win there," McGinley said.
Who is favourite to win The Open?
Newly-crowned Masters champion Rory McIlroy is now the red-hot favourite to clinch his second Open title.
Scottie Scheffler is the second favourite, followed by Ludvig Aberg, Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele, Shane Lowry, Bryson DeChambeau and Tommy Fleetwood.
The 153rd Open will be played over 17-20 July at Royal Portrush.
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