Bob MacIntyre makes 'tough decision' by leaving coach who 'felt like a brother'

Bob MacIntyre has never been scared to put his head above the parapet, having done so earlier this year when he described the LIV Golf sign-up figures as “obscene money to be throwing at sport”.

Without naming names, the Oban man also seemed intent on making his point when posting a tweet that appeared to have been aimed at Sergio Garcia over a foul-mouthed rant by the Spaniard about the DP World Tour in Germany a fortnight ago.

“Amazing how fast you can lose respect for someone that you’ve looked up to all your life,” wrote MacIntyre in his social media message, which received a thumbs up from fellow players.

At this particular moment in time, though, the 25-year-old is steering clear of controversy, having decided to focus purely on himself heading into this week’s 40th Genesis Scottish Open then the 150th Open next week.

He’s determined to produce two strong performances in front of his home fans at The Renaissance Club and St Andrews and, while LIV Golf chat may be thick in the air at the moment, MacIntyre is more concerned about a recent significant change in his support team.

Having worked with David Burns since the tail end of his amateur career, MacIntyre has now linked up with Simon Shanks, an English swing guru who had a spell with Eddie Pepperell.

“We had so many phone calls before we did it and I knew it was going to be hard,” said MacIntyre of parting company with Burns, who also works with Calum Hill, another of the Scots to land a maiden win on the DP World Tour over the past couple of seasons. “Davie is like a brother, if I’m being honest. Everywhere I went, he went. It was good in a way and possibly a bad thing in a way as well.

“It’s a job I’m doing, it’s a business I’m running. I am trying to be the