The Scottish pro Robert MacIntyre has missed the cut in the last six events of the twelve starts he made, including last week’s CJ Cup Byron Nelson. This week, however, things are looking up, with him taking the lead after the opening round of the Myrtle Beach Classic. The sudden boost in his confidence and gameplay could possibly be attributed to his recent visit home!

Just this year, MacIntyre was one of the ten DP World Tour players to earn PGA Tour memberships and receive their PGA Tour card. However, with the chance to play in some big events also come drawbacks, the biggest of which arguably is their always being on the move. Being away from home has clearly impacted the 27-year-old and his game. But there is still hope, for the Scottish star has found warmth away from home in America, all thanks to his girlfriend, Shannon Hartley!

Shannon Hartley was on the sidelines at the 2023 Ryder Cup

Robert MacIntyre has been seeing Shannon Hartley for a while now, how long exactly, though, remains a secret. That being said, the earliest photo of the two on Instagram is from July last year. Hartley stood alongside MacIntyre and his team on the greens at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club at the 2023 Open Championship. The two have and continue to keep their relationship extremely private.

On one occasion, though, the pair grabbed the spotlight: MacIntyre’s debut at the 2023 Ryder Cup. Hartley had accompanied the Scotsman to Rome, along with the other European players and their partners. She was seen supporting MacIntyre from outside the ropes on the course, and at the after-party, the two even danced to The Proclaimers and celebrated their victory like true Scotts!

Interestingly, Hartley also accompanies him to the majority of the events, along with his core team: Iain Stoddart (manager) and Simon Shanks (coach). As for her career, according to the Daily Express, she could be a model. Contrarily, a quick look at her Instagram indicates a different story. Hartley has a few emoticons in her profile bio, which perhaps point to her working in the healthcare industry!

Even though not much is known publicly about Hartley yet, one thing is certain: She is MacIntyre’s rock while living on the go. He further cemented that sentiment by stating that whenever he felt lonely, she was around to support him and cheer him up. “I’ve had obviously my girlfriend,” he stated when asked about the tough times he faced being away from home.

And as per the Scottish star, it has been a lot tougher than it looks. The separation from his country and the European circuit is taking quite a toll on Bob, and even with Hartley keeping him grounded, the problems don’t just go away.

Robert MacIntyre opens up about adjusting on the PGA Tour

Being miles away from his home, the DP World Tour has not worked in favor of Robert MacIntyre. The 27-year-old revealed to The Scotsman that the environment from the European Tour to the PGA Tour is drastically different. In Europe, he was mostly accompanied by players at dinning, always had someone when struggling in the game, and the entire feel was more like a “family”!

However, at the PGA Tour, things are unfamiliar, and there’s “less of that big family feel that you get on the DP World Tour,” as per MacIntyre. To top it off, the Scottish pro expressed that now he can’t frequently fly home to be with his family when he’s feeling down. That, of course, makes Hartley’s roles in his life so much more important!

Thankfully, Bob recently visited his family in Scotland, and now that he’s back, the change is quite evident. Spending time with loved ones appears to have been beneficial. However, will it be enough for him to keep his lead through the next three rounds of the Myrtle Classic? Only time will tell.