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Robert MacIntyre winning a major would not be a surprise and his fearless mentality could propel him to one of the big four titles, says former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley.<\/b><\/p>\n
Ireland’s McGinley, who has become one of the most astute analysts in the game, believes the Scotsman’s form over the past two years has established him among the elite.<\/p>\n
MacIntyre, 28, staged a late surge to claim the Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club last July – a month after winning the PGA Tour’s Canadian Open with his dad Dougie on the bag.<\/p>\n
“With big titles behind them – against strong fields – a major is not that big a leap for him,” McGinley told BBC Sport Scotland.<\/p>\n
“It didn’t happen at Augusta (MacIntyre missed the cut), but he’s certainly in that upper echelon of people being considered to win a major. <\/p>\n
“Should he do so, it would not be that big a surprise. Two years ago, it would have been a big jump. But he’s closed the gap to the best players in the game.<\/p>\n
“He’s got a swashbuckling style. He doesn’t play with a lot of fear. He is one of those guys that you will consider as a potential winner in every major.”<\/p>\n
McGinley – speaking on the eve of a Legends Tour’s event at Apes Hill in Barbados, hosted by former Masters champion Ian Woosnam – can see similarities in the development of MacIntyre and Danny Willett, winner at Augusta in 2016.<\/p>\n
Willett was world number 12 when he claimed his Green Jacket but was viewed as a surprise winner because he played his golf largely on the European circuit. <\/p>\n
MacIntyre is 20th in the world and usually flies under the radar when predictions are made about potential major winners.<\/p>\n
However, he contributed 2\u00bd points out of three matches to help Europe regain the Ryder Cup in Rome in 2023 and backed that up with his two victories last year <\/p>\n
“He reminds me a bit of when Willett won the Masters. He had won in Dubai against a great field a couple of months before, so although it was a bit of a surprise win for the US audience, he was on the cusp of the world top-10 at the time,” added McGinley.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n