Robert MacIntyre is rewriting the record books at the Valero Texas Open. He set the tournament's lowest 36-hole score since 2010. His performance gives him a commanding lead heading into the weekend, just a week before The Masters.

He set the lowest 36-hole score at TPC San Antonio since 2010, and as play was later stopped due to weather, his lead stayed intact heading into the weekend.

Robert MacIntyre started with an eagle and closed with four birdies to post 64, building a four-shot gap over Ludvig Åberg in the final event before The Masters.

“This was an adjustment for that reason. I wanted to be sharp, or sharper, going into Augusta. Yes, I prefer playing my way in whether it's one, two, sometimes three events before a major,” said Robert MacIntyre after setting the 36-hole record at the Valero Texas Open during a press conference.

The winner of the Valero Texas Open earns a place in The Masters next week, and the rest of the field includes former winners, recent major champions, and players ranked inside the top 50 in the world.

However, the World No. 11 already has an exemption for The Masters, so he didn’t need this start, but he added the Valero Texas Open to his schedule to play his way into form ahead of the major.

He began his round on the back nine, opening with a birdie at his first hole and an eagle at the 14th, and then added birdies on four of his last five holes on the front nine.

He played alongside Ludvig Åberg over the first two rounds, and they moved through the round together, while Åberg posted a second straight 67 to sit alone in second.

And as his position on the leaderboard took shape, the changes behind it began to come into focus.

Robert MacIntyre Turns to Equipment Change to Shape His Start

Robert MacIntyre linked his start at the Valero Texas Open to a change at the top of his bag, as he moved to a new Titleist GTS2 driver ahead of the event. 

He replaced his previous Titleist TSR2 driver, keeping a similar feel while gaining more control over ball shape in the wind at TPC San Antonio.

And as the rounds unfolded, that change showed in his numbers, with a place inside the top 10 in strokes gained off the tee and driving accuracy, along with an average of 318 yards in the opening round. 

His bag also reflects other updates this season, including a return to a TaylorMade AeroBurner 3-wood, a shift to Titleist 620 CB irons, and the use of Titleist Pro V1, all part of his plan to prepare for The Masters.

For now, Robert MacIntyre leads at 14-under after two rounds. Will he hold on through the weekend?

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Written by

Aditi Singh

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar