McGinley – speaking alongside colleagues Rich Lerner and Brandel Chamblee, with whom he will cover the US Open for the Golf Channel – believes Shinnecock’s fast-running fairways and breezy test will suit MacIntyre.
“He’s a dogged competitor. He’s got a huge heart. There was a reason he was played down the order on the last day of the singles. We have a lot of belief in him,” added McGinley, an advisor to captain Luke Donald on both MacIntyre’s Ryder Cup appearances.
“He loves the fight. I’m a huge admirer of his game. He’s a wonderful putter, he’s won on links courses and growing up in Scotland, he’s very familiar with the kind of conditions at Shinnecock Hills.”
The set-up at Shinnecock could favour MacIntyre, who is an indifferent 46th in driving accuracy on the PGA Tour this season.
World number one Scottie Scheffler made a scouting trip to Long Island a few weeks ago and was surprised at the relative width, by US Open standards, of the fairways.
The rough beyond the cut grass is ominous, but the Open champion believes the real test in this US Open will be on the slippery greens.
It fits the profile of former champions at Shinnecock, with Corey Pavin – a short hitter who dazzled with a wedge and a putter in his hands – winning there in 1995 and Goosen putting with astonishing touch and nerve to win in 2004.
MacIntyre will be buoyed by his Canadian Open performance but will he will need all of his noted short-game prowess and a cool head to prosper this week and go one better than the glorious near-miss of 12 months ago.
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