OWINGS MILLS, Md.: Robert MacIntyre ducked his head under the branches and climbed into a mess of bushes behind the fifth green without a golf club, first seeing if he could find his ball and then deciding if it was worth trying to play it.
Through an opening he saw Scottie Scheffler waiting on him, a reminder of what he was up against Saturday in the BMW Championship.
He took on the shot and somehow made par with two tough putts from 70 feet. It was a big moment. But to MacIntyre, all of them were big — the par saves, a few birdie chances he missed and the 40-foot birdie that ended a satisfying day.
The last birdie gave MacIntyre a 2-under 68 and a four-shot lead over the No. 1 player in the world going into the final round at Caves Valley.
“It was massive,” MacIntyre said of his par save on No. 5. “Look, every save, every shot is a prisoner for me. That shot there is no more important than that one I’ve hit on 18, any of the shots I’ve hit today. I’ve played beautifully all week, so it’s just about continuing that going into tomorrow.”
And he knows what to expect Sunday, another date in the final group with Scheffler, who had an efficient 67 to trim a shot off the five-shot deficit he faced at the start.
It was obvious who the big crowd wanted, and MacIntyre heard one fan from a hospitality suite behind the 14th green and had enough.
He holed an 8-foot par putt right after Scheffler made birdie, looked back at the crowd as he lightly pumped his fist and put his index finger to his lips to shush whoever got under his Scottish skin.
“I totally expected to be in this situation today when I’m in this position. It’s going to be the exact same tomorrow,” MacIntyre said. “I’ll give back as good as I get. Look, I
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