SCOTS golfer Bob MacIntyre has revealed he loves flying the Scottish flag at The Open.
On the eve of the 149th Championship, he proudly proclaimed he is "Scottish through and through".
The 24-year-old from Oban is the only Scot competing in the 156-strong field at The Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich.
MacIntyre is looking to beat his joint sixth place in his Open debut two years ago at Royal Portrush.
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The Scottish golfer said: "I play golf because I love it and I compete because I love the fight.
"Week to week it changes with your mental state, your emotions.
"But you come to an Open and you're the only Scot, you're fighting for the flag and I just love seeing the Scottish flag flying here.
"Everything about Scotland is brilliant and, as long as I'm playing golf, I'll be flying the flag for my country as much as I can.
"It's in the blood. I'm Scottish through and through. I'm not intimidated by it knowing that any Scottish fans here this week will all have my back.
"It's not like I'm playing somewhere there aren't going to be Scots there to cheer me on.
"There are going to be a fair few here, I think, so I'm going to be all right on that side of things."
The Open, starting today, will be played in front of 32,000 fans each day in the English town after being canceled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
MacIntyre continued: "I'm not taking anything for granted but I feel like I belong.
"I've earned my spot and I'm here to compete, not here to learn. Although I finished sixth at Portrush, I was doing everything I could to learn.
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"This year I've proved that I can compete. It's about having belief and I'm certainly not here to make up the numbers.
"If I do better than sixth, I'll be walking down 18 with a smile on my face, regardless of the outcome.
"It's the dream when you're growing up, to have a chance to win any major - The Open especially.
"If I'm inside the top six coming down the back nine on Sunday afternoon, I'm going at it. I'll lay it all on the line."
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