‘Showed Why He’s World No. 1’: Robert MacIntyre Takes Pride in Tying Against Dustin Johnson

The second-round matches at the WGC-Dell Match Play 2021 were nothing short of exciting. While there were a few upsets, World No. 1 Dustin Johnson somehow held on and tied his match against Scottish player Robert MacIntyre. Johnson made a back-nine surge and matched his opponent. 

Dustin Johnson got off to a strong start and was 1-up by the end of the eighth hole. But that’s when MacIntyre found his real striking and began giving a comeback. The Scott fought till the limits and raced to a two-hole lead by the end of the par-4 15th. 

MacIntyre was poised to win his match against Johnson, but the latter displayed nerves of steel and saved himself from embarrassment. 

“It was a tough match. Ended up making a really good halve, and definitely pleased with it,” Johnson said. 

“Yeah, you know, he holed putts when he had to hole putts. He does that to win numerous majors. I’m young. I’ve got plenty of time ahead of me,” MacIntyre reflected on the tie. 

MacIntyre is proud of the effort he put in against Dustin Johnson

Playing against the World No. 1 can always be intimidating. There’s always that perk that comes along with being the best in the business, but MacIntyre didn’t allow it to creep into him when he played Johnson at the Austin Country Club. 

The young Scot was obviously disappointed that he didn’t claim victory, but a tie is a massive achievement indeed. MacIntyre went up against the best in the world, and he can hold his head up for giving Dustin Johnson a nervous time on the course. 

“He showed why he’s world No. 1 in the end, holed putts — holed a good putt on 17 there that I thought — I always think, right, I’ve got to hole no matter where my opponent is. He holes that, and then honestly I thought that putt was in, but a half match against world No. 1, he had to work his very best in the end to match me, and that’s something I can be proud of,” MacIntyre said after the match. 

A win against Dustin Johnson would’ve been sweet for plenty of reasons. MacIntyre would’ve progressed to the Round of 16 had he defeated Johnson, but the latter showcased his champion mentality on Thursday. 

D.J. eagled the par-5 16th and birdied the par-3 17th to erase the two-hole deficit late in the match. It was a heart-break for Robert MacIntyre, but there’s still a chance for him to emerge victorious from his group. 

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