"That's for you to decide" MacIntyre hits back at critics over Memorial WD

Bob MacIntyre has defended his decision to withdraw from this week's $20m Memorial Tournament on the PGA Tour, per Scottish golf publication, Bunkered. 

MacIntyre, 27, locked up an emotional maiden PGA Tour title at the RBC Canadian Open on Sunday, doing so with his father Dougie on the bag. 

The win brought a number perks for the European Ryder Cup hero, none bigger than a cheque for $1.7m, a PGA Tour exemption through to 2026, and a host of OWGR and FedEx Cup points that have vaulted him up into the top 40 on both standings. 

There was also an invite into this week's Memorial Tournament, a $20m signature event on the PGA Tour hosted by record 18-time major champion Jack Nicklaus at famed Muirfield Village, as a result of topping the latest Aon Swing 5 rankings. 

The winner of the Memorial gets $4m, exactly the same as winners of a LIV Golf League event in 2024. 

But MacIntyre decided to officially withdraw from the coveted Memorial Tournament on Monday as he headed back to Oban, Scotland, to 'party hard' with his girlfriend, family and friends. 

The decision appeared to split opinion with golf fans on social media, with some going as far to say the WD 'betrays lack of ambition'.

In an interview with Bunkered that was published on Wedensday afternoon, MacIntyre confirmed regardless of having a sore head, he was already going to take this week off no matter what happened at the RBC Canadian Open.

That's because he had played six weeks in a row on the PGA Tour, and he wanted a week off to best prepare for the season's third major at Pinehurst No.2 in North Carolina from 13-16 June.

The six-week stretch has been a success too with four top-15 finishes, highlighted by his maiden win at the RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf & Country Club and a respectable T8 at the US PGA Championship at Valhalla. 

MacIntyre told Bunkered: 

"I actually miscounted the tournaments that I’d played when I did a press conference last week. That was actually week six, and it’s been a good six weeks.

"The mental aspect of that six-week stretch was high and then obviously winning last week was an even bigger high, so if I played Memorial, the US Open and the Travelers, that would have been nine weeks in a row.

"Not many players would play nine weeks in a row, except probably me, the madman."

The Scot then hit out at those that think his WD 'betrays lack of ambition'.

"There was no disrespect [intended] for Jack’s event. This was all about what was right for me.

"I mean, the fifth week, Colonial, I thought that was even a step too far after having obviously been in with a chance to win at Myrtle Beach, having an outside chance at the PGA Championship.

"So me and my team, we just thought it was the right thing to pull back, have a week off. It could have been any event. Yes, I get that it’s an elevated event, and it’s $20m or whatever it is.

"But does preparing right for the US Open not show ambition? That’s for you to decide."

MacIntyre is available at odds of 60/1 to win his first major title at the 2024 US Open.