Scottish star raced clear of the pack at the PGA Tour event and set a new benchmark as he sizzled in the drizzle

20:13, 03 Apr 2026Updated 08:41, 05 Apr 2026

Bob MacIntyre plays a shot on the eighth hole during the second round of the Valero Texas Open

Blistering Bob MacIntyre felt dynamite and right at home as he maintained a buoyant build-up to the Masters.

The Scot scorched to a sizzling second-day 64 at the Valero Texas Open to carve a four-shot advantage at the tournament’s halfway mark.

MacIntyre can complete the Texas job through 30 holes on Sunday after storms saw round three suspended after just six of his Saturday round.

He starts the final day two ahead of Ludvig Aberg and has eyes on this PGA Tour prize before the 29-year-old will also go onto the first major of 2026 as a serious contender for the Green Jacket.

MacIntyre’s Friday morning blitz followed an opening 66 and led to him smashing the 36-hole record at the event previously held by Brian Harman and setting a new mark since the tournament moved to TPC San Antonio in 2010.

The Oban ace has opted to play this week to get competitive juices flowing for Augusta and it’s paying off handsomely so far.

MacIntyre is getting a double bonus as he gets hot heading to Georgia and explained after round two: “I’ve tweaked this this year. I didn’t play last year, just went straight into Augusta. This was an adjustment for that reason.

“I wanted to be sharp or sharper going into Augusta. I prefer playing my way in whether it’s one, two, sometimes three events before a Major.”

MacIntyre rattled seven birdies and an eagle on Friday as he dazzled in the wind alongside playing partner Aberg, his Ryder Cup team-mate, and American hero Jordan Spieth.

He said: “I’ve been driving the ball nice, got the new Titleist driver in the bag. It’s very similar to my old driver, but just newer model. Better technology, I suppose.

“For me, a big thing is to be able to shape the ball, especially when it gets windy. Two rounds in with it, so far so good.

“Iron play was exceptional, I would say, other than a poor wedge shot on the 17th, I thought it was absolutely dynamite. Hitting the number, hitting the targets and you’ve got to finish it off with good putting. So, overall, just really solid.

“I know that I’m kind of playing nicely. Starting on that back nine was nice. If you play well, you can build momentum. It was a good start and then a good finish.”

Bob MacIntyre of Scotland reacts on the eighth green

MacIntyre is savouring the surroundings and conditions as, with the majority of the field staying at the hotel on the Oaks Course, he admitted it gives off the tight-knit feel of a DP World Tour event.

He said: “It does. You’re on site. You’re passing everyone. Obviously, we’ve got the car, so we can go out for dinner and stuff with my caddy, my coach.

“So it does somewhat feel a little bit different this week. Everyone’s not in houses and you’re not meeting everyone when you get to the course.

“I think I enjoy the weather, that little bit of breeze. I enjoy coming here. This is my second time. It’s a nice environment, nice people.”

MacIntyre and Aberg have fed off each other and the Scot said: “Yeah, we’re good friends, obviously, from the Ryder Cup and stuff. We got on really well. It’s good to play with good players and you can kind of build in a round.”

MacIntyre could look for omens as the past two winners of this event have been, like himself, left-handed in the shape of Akshay Bhatia and Harman.

But he said: “Look, I don’t know. Obviously left-handers have done well in the past, but I’m not worrying about that one bit. I just try and worry about myself, worry about warming up in the morning and getting after it.”