We will never know what would have happened if the Alfred Dunhill Links had been played over 72 holes, although it seems that Robert MacIntyre‘s candidacy, winner at 54 holes, would have been the favourite anyway. And, fortunately for the Scottish player, we will also never know what would have happened if MacIntyre had been able to prepare for the tournament with his usual work routines: practice rounds, gym sessions, proper diet, and so on. In fact, both he and his team were clear that it would be a peculiar and more relaxed week in every aspect. He had just played and won the Ryder Cup, so he arrived at the tournament on Wednesday afternoon and the only thing he did was play twelve holes on the Old Course at St. Andrews…
“To be honest, I don’t know where I got the energy from after the Ryder. Sometimes, when you least expect it, things happen,” he noted after winning. “This week I literally had no expectations. To be honest, I had no preparation. I did everything I wouldn’t do in a normal week. I arrived here on Wednesday afternoon and played about 12 holes on the Old Course. I haven’t done my usual work in the gym. I haven’t eaten well. So, yes, I’ve done everything that goes against the manual. I’ve consumed a lot of takeaway food, a lot of fish and chips and things like that.”
Indeed, you never know how and when you will reap the rewards of a job well done. Because it goes without saying that the Scot, quite the opposite of what has happened this week in his homeland, has been fine-tuning his work method for a long time and raising expectations and goals. Today, at 29 years old, having turned last August, he is very clear about it: “It’s no longer a secret. A Major is what I need or what I want. But look, if I play all the majors over the next ten years, I have forty chances, and I hope I can win one. And if I achieve it sooner rather than later, maybe we’ll add more,” he noted.
Of course, what happened to him this week at the Alfred Dunhill Links will never happen to him during a Major week. He will never arrive on a Wednesday and barely play twelve holes; he will not neglect his diet or gym work; and much less will he attend the event with no expectations. It’s the great paradox of golf and life, but it’s how it has to be. And it’s obvious that MacIntyre didn’t win the Alfred Dunhill Links thanks to everything he didn’t do that particular week, due to absolutely special circumstances, but rather thanks to everything he had been doing for a long time.
