Robert MacIntyre insists his approach to the Genesis Scottish Open has been more relaxed than ever before.
MacIntyre opened with a three-under-par round of 67, with a birdie at the par-three ninth – his final hole – securing a strong start to the tournament at The Renaissance Club.
It leaves MacIntyre six shots behind leader Byeong Hun An from South Korea.
MacIntyre finished tied fourth at last week’s Made in HimmerLand event in Denmark, having held a two-shot lead going into his final nine holes.
The 26-year-old feels getting off to a strong start shows he means business this week.
MacIntyre said: “This week has probably been the least work I’ve ever done at a Scottish Open.
“I pitched up on Tuesday, warmed-up, played nine holes and then disappeared.
“On Wednesday, I did a bit of chipping after the pro-am.
“But other than that, I’m here to compete.
“You don’t compete on the range. You compete on the golf course.
“The first time I came here a few years ago, I didn’t fall in love with it.
“But it’s matured so much more now. The rough is up and the greens are taking shape. It’s just a good solid golf course now.”
Promising start but disappointing finish for Law
Aberdeen’s David Law finished level par on 70, finishing with a double bogey on the 18th.
Law, who was the first player to tee off at 7.15am, had been rapidly out of the blocks to move four-under-par in his first four holes – including an eagle at the third.
The 32-year-old remained level-headed despite letting go of his strong start.
Law said: “I got off to a fast start – but it was obviously not the finish I wanted.
“I played OK – I didn’t feel in particularly much trouble or anything like that.
“I wasn’t quite firing to be honest. If I got in at two-under I would have been pretty happy. It was a pretty disappointing finish, but not the end of the world.
“It was nice to hit the first shot, especially at a huge event like this at the Scottish Open. The 4am alarm in the morning wasn’t so nice, but it’s always nice to get out early and beat the pace of play so to speak.
“It was a really nice touch.”
Ferguson the leading Scot following opening round
Fellow Aberdonian Richie Ramsay finished one-over-par on 71, after recording two bogeys in his final three holes.
Glasgow’s Ewen Ferguson is the leading Scot after one round, with an impressive four-under-par round of 66.
Ferguson knows there is still a long way to go, however, and he said: “I think I did very well. I think coming out in your home Open and birdieing the first two holes is quite impressive with the front nine I had, which was the back nine.
“I knew at some point in links golf in a round you’re going to have a wee point where you need to stick in and really grind, and it came, and I knew this was the point. I said to my caddie, it’s not going to be free flowing.
“We came to that point of the round, middle of the front nine, and I battled hard, managed to get a wee birdie in there and bogey at the last. But it’s four rounds of golf and see how I go the rest of the week.
“In links golf, the conditions are going to change and you’ll deal with different elements. It doesn’t set me up in any way.
“I just start my new round and have a new game plan and new everything what I need to do.
“This round is done now. I’m happy with it.”
Kirkcaldy’s Connor Syme started with a two-under-par round of 68, while local player Grant Forrest, who is a Renaissance member, is a shot further back on one under.
