‘Young Bob MacIntyre’ has quite the year
By Iain Macfarlane, Scottish Golf
Image by: Christopher Young, Scottish Golf
The sight of a Scottish ‘lefty’ playing at the top of the world game with flair and a maturity of purpose has a certain ring to it.
Of course, Robert MacIntyre has been doing this as a professional for a few years now.
With two wins on the PGA Tour and two Ryder Cups under his belt, the man from Oban is now instantly recognisable as one of golf’s greatest talents.
But wait – that initial description might well fit another Scot whose game is on an upward curve at the amateur level of the sport.
Step forward Cameron Adam.
The 22-year-old Scottish amateur might not be at the level of his friend and compatriot just yet, but to use the modern parlance his game is certainly ‘trending’ in that direction.
There can be no doubt that 2025 has been a stunning year in the fledgling career of Adam, a young man who is destined for the pro ranks in the very near future after travelling along Scottish Golf’s performance pathway from boys’ level to the men’s squad.
Supported by funding from the Alfred Dunhill Links Foundation, Scottish Golf has been able to encourage up-and-coming amateur talents such as Adam to achieve their full potential.
At a time when so much focus is on the higher-profile professional scene, the investment in the amateur game is vital to continue the flow of talent.
Adam is certainly a talent.
The young man from Edinburgh, a member at the Royal Burgess Golfing Society on the western edge of the city, has always been ‘one to watch’.
Anyone who witnessed his performance at the 2023 Scottish Men’s Amateur Championship could testify to that.
On a glorious week in the highlands, Adam smashed the course record at both Tain and Royal Dornoch in the stroke play qualifying with consecutive rounds of 63 and then marched with some purpose to victory in the match play culminating in a thrilling final against Aldeburgh’s Gregor Tait.
To describe his play that week as ‘imperious’ is to undersell the quality of the golf on show.
Yet, if anything, 2025 has surpassed even the giddy heights of that summer hot streak two years ago.
It all began for Adam in the Home of Golf in June soon after he finished his final year’s studies at Northwestern University in Illinois.
The St Andrews Links Trophy is now established as one of male amateur golf’s crown jewels.
With 144 players from 30 countries present for the 2025 edition, Adam opened with a round of 68 on the Jubilee Course followed by a blistering 64 on the Old.
Further rounds of 71 and 68 saw him tie for the lead with Ireland’s John Doyle on 17 under par.
However, Adam had the momentum having birdied the 72nd hole to earn that play-off place. A par at the first extra hole secured the title.
That win proved to be the appetiser for an even tastier main course just a few weeks later – an appearance at the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush.
Having won a mini Order of Merit based on performances in the Links Trophy, European Men’s Amateur and R&A Amateur, Adam teed it up in his first major.
If there were any nerves, some of these were dispelled during practice rounds with fellow Scottish amateur Connor Graham and the player they both idolise – MacIntyre.
As an amateur player of some distinction himself (MacIntyre won the Scottish Men’s Amateur in 2015 at Muirfield and played in the Walker Cup at Los Angeles Country Club two years later), the highest-ranked Scot in the world knew where Adam was coming from as he pegged it up on the Antrim Coast.
For Adam, the fact he can lean on MacIntyre for guidance and advice is a precious gift for one so young.
“He has been massive for me,” Adam admitted earlier this year.
“It’s a privilege seeing him do so well.
“I had a spot last year where I was struggling with my putting, a few things, and he really helped me out, got me the eyes I needed and even put his own eyes on it.
“Being able to learn from someone like that who is having such great success is invaluable.
“Bob played with me two of the three practice rounds at The Open and just to be able to learn off him is amazing.
“He really settled me down.”
Despite narrowly missing the cut at The Open, Adam could reflect on a positive experience in Northern Ireland and the next exciting moment in his year of progress was just around the corner.
An appearance at the DP World Tour’s Betfred British Masters at the Belfry in August was another milestone.
After opening with solid rounds of 71 and 70, Adam posted a fantastic score on 66 on day three to challenge for the lead.
Alex Noren may have eventually taken the title, but for Adam that week represented another great leap forward.
Of course, the bread and butter for Adam remained his amateur events – as a proud Scot he was able to juggle his individual goals with a spot in the Scotland side that played in the European Team Championships in Hungary and the GB&I side that won the St Andrews Trophy against the continent of Europe.
There was also an automatic selection for Dean Robertson’s GB&I Walker Cup team that took on the USA at Cypress Point last month.
What comes next for Adam remains to be seen.
Next week (8-11 October) he will join Graham and Niall Shiels Donegan as part of a strong Scotland side that heads to Singapore for the Eisenhower Trophy otherwise known as the World Amateur Team Championships.
If talent and momentum have anything to do with it, then Adam is destined to play a key role for Scotland in that event.
After that? Well, as MacIntyre has proved, natural ability and hard work can take you to the very top of the game.
Adam has both in spades and with MacIntyre as both mentor and inspiration, he has the perfect role model to follow.
