Robert MacIntyre

If Hollywood was writing the script for The 152nd Open, the end credits would probably roll with Robert MacIntyre holding the Claret Jug.

The 27-year-old from Oban is living the dream, going from winning his home tournament, the Genesis Scottish Open, to teeing it up at golf’s original Championship.

He is being carried by a wave of Scottish support ready to spur him on to another fairytale finish and is likely still riding the high from a ‘wild’ night celebrating his win at The Renaissance Club.

Despite the heightened fanfare around his delayed arrival to Royal Troon, MacIntyre is not getting carried away.

“There's no expectation from myself and my team around me other than to give 110 per cent," he said. 

“There was obviously a lot of outside expectation on me last week but it was just about me playing golf and enjoying myself.

“My job was to give myself a chance going into Sunday. I did that and managed to get over the line.”

Expectation is a word that keeps cropping up in conversations around MacIntyre. With his first two PGA TOUR victories arriving in as many months, is he ready to make the step up to a major?

If it is not to be this time, it will not be for a lack of fight.

“It wasn't really until I won in Canada that I really felt like I could compete out here fully,” he said.

“I think it's just an attitude thing. You're not given anything out here. You've got to earn it. You've got to earn the respect of the guys you've looked up to for many years.

“I feel like the Ryder Cup was an eye opener for me in that I realised the majority of these guys, all of them, are just normal guys, especially guys on the European team that I've really gotten along well with and I continue to have a good relationship with.

“It wasn't until probably then that I realised, you know what, if these guys can do it, I can do it.”

It’s been a whirlwind 12 months for MacIntyre, who has risen from outside the world's top 100 prior to last year's Scottish Open to 16th after his victory there this year.

He will tee off at 9:36am tomorrow alongside two of his Ryder Cup teammates, Jon Rahm and Tommy Fleetwood.

He has never once looked out of place or overawed by the occasion, seemingly immune to pressure.

“I can't put my finger on why I do reasonably well when there's a lot of expectation or there's a lot of noise or it's a big event,” he explained.

“Again, I've been brought up to fight for everything when everything's on the line. I always say to [his caddy] Mike, in the most stressful situations on a golf course, there's no one else that can hit the golf ball for you.

“You can't ask someone to do it for you. You've just got to stand up, take the shot on.

“Obviously I love playing team sports, but that's one of the benefits of playing an individual sport. It's on you, and I don't mind that.”

With each victory, each nerveless putt and each big grin his supporter base grows. This week presents an opportunity to inspire the younger fans who have jumped on the bandwagon.

“Don't be scared to dream,” he said. “A lot of kids out there will be told to do certain things because things aren't achievable, but with hard work, sacrifice, dedication, anything's possible.

“Obviously you need a bit of luck on the way. You need a good break. You need a decent support background. But anything's possible.”

And dream he should. It has been 25 years since a Scot won the Scottish Open and 25 years since a Scot won The Open. Can he do it again?

“It's possible. Tomorrow we'll start off from level par. I've got as much chance as everyone else in the field,” he said.

“It's just about getting in that position on Sunday and seeing where the cards fall. Obviously last week they fell my way.

“My job is to go out there, fight as hard as I can, try my best, and hopefully get in a position where I can just have a chance.

“That's all I can ask myself, I just want to have a chance.”