Bob MacIntyre backs Rory McIlroy's 'no brainer' rallying call

McIlroy was speaking in the week he won the circuit’s Race to Dubai title for a seventh time, moving within one of Colin Montgomerie’s record of eight Harry Vardon Trophy triumphs.

MacIntyre only became a PGA Tour card holder at the start of the 2024 season after securing one of the ten tickets now up for grabs each year on the DP World Tour through the Race to Dubai.

As a result of his schedule on the US circuit, the Scottish No 1 has only made a combined 15 appearances, not counting majors, on the DP World Tour schedule over the past couple of years.

And, though he’s set to start his 2026 campaign by playing in two PGA Tour events - the Sony Open in Hawaii next week then The American Express in California the following week - as opposed to heading to the Middle East for the upcoming Dubai Invitational and Hero Dubai Desert Classic, the message from McIlroy registered with him.

“100 per cent,” admitted MacIntyre. “I don’t know what the world of golf has got in store for all the tours and what’s going on. But I love coming back over here (to the DP World Tour). Look, I have only played in America for two years and I love coming back to Europe.

“You’ve got to hope you have a good season and you can finish the PGA Tour season in August and then you can then go to the likes of Ireland, Wentworth and stuff on this side of the Atlantic. I’ve played a lot of golf the last two years, a lot of rounds of golf, but I think for us guys, Europeans, once the PGA Tour season is done, it’s another tour for us after that.”

Rory McIlroy is going to be followed by ‘a lot of guys’

McIlroy was speaking after he’d supported the Amgen Irish Open once again last year, delighting the home fans with a dramatic win at The K Club, as well as playing in the inaugural DP World India Championship. The world No 2 also teed up in the Crown Australian Open in December and is starting his 2026 calendar campaign by playing in next week's Dubai Invitational then the Hero Dubai Desert Classic the following week.

“Look, if Rory is going somewhere guys will follow - it’s a no brainer,” added MacIntyre. “I think he is going to end up being the best European player ever to play the game of golf. He probably is already. When Rory does something or goes somewhere, probably a lot of guys are going to follow.”

It was announced in the build up to the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai that the Rory McIlroy Award is being introduced this season, a prize for the DP World Tour member - McIlroy is the only player who is ineligible - who performs best across the majors.

Having finished runner-up to J.J. Spaun in the US Open at Oakmont and also tied for seventh in The Open at Royal Portrush, it’s likely that MacIntyre would have been the winner if it had been up for grabs last year.

“Someome mentioned that to me on a group chat,” he admitted, smiling. “Look, it is a nice award you can get but, at the end of the day, it’s all about winning individual tournaments and winning a major championship would go a long way in my life goal.”