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McGinley — speaking with colleagues Rich Lerner and Brandel Chamblee, with whom he will cover the U.S. Open for the Golf Channel — believes Shinnecock’s fast-moving fairways and wind test will suit McIntyre.
“He’s a fierce competitor. He’s got a huge heart. There was a reason he was played down the order on the last day of singles. We have a lot of faith in him,” added McGinley, who mentored captain Luke Donald in both of McIntyre’s Ryder Cup matches.
“He loves a fight. I’m an admirer of his game. He’s a great putter, he’s won on the links course and growing up in Scotland, he’s very familiar with the conditions at Shinnecock Hills.”
The set-up at Shinnecock may favor McIntyre, who is a dismal 46th in driving accuracy on the PGA Tour this season.
World No. 1 Scotty Scheffler took a scouting trip to Long Island a few weeks ago and marveled at the relative width of the fairways by US Open standards.
The rough outside of the cut grass is ominous, but the Open champion believes the real test at this US Open will be on the slippery greens.
It fits the profile of Shinnecock’s former champions, with Corey Pavin — a short hitter who dazzled with a wedge and a putter in his hand — winning there in 1995 and Goosen providing wonderful touch and nerve to win in 2004.
McIntyre will be buoyed by his Canadian Open performance but will need all his remarkable short-game skills and cool head to improve this week and go one better than his glorious near-miss 12 months ago.
