Colin Montgomerie has urged Robert MacIntyre “to be a little more patient and let it happen” as his fellow Scot chases a first major championship.
MacIntyre, 29, went agonisingly close at last summer’s US Open at Oakmont, where he finished runner-up.
However, he missed the cut at last month’s Masters and drew criticism for his on-course behaviour at Augusta, where he directed a middle finger gesture towards the 15th green, slammed his club into the ground after a poor shot on 17 and was also repeatedly heard swearing by microphones.
World number 12 MacIntyre is hoping to make the headlines for all the right reasons at this week’s US PGA Championship, which got underway in Pennsylvania on Thursday.
Eight-time European Tour Order of Merit winner Montgomerie said: “It is the way he is, I think there is fire in his belly and he wants to be good and better himself and win and that is important, not to lose that but at the same time that is forcing it and to force it, especially at Augusta or these majors where it is the ultimate test, it is very difficult.
“So, if I am giving him any advice at all, and who am I to give advice, but I would love to say to him, ‘just let it happen, let it breathe, be patient and let it happen’ and I am sure if he does that success will come.”
Montgomerie, 62, who was in Aberdeen promoting this summer’s Staysure PGA Seniors Championship at Trump International, added: “After his fantastic performance at the US Open last year at Oakmont where he was a putt away from winning, I think he is probably trying a little bit too hard.
“So if he can just let it happen and let that talent shine through, he has every opportunity of winning a major, which would be great for Scottish and European golf obviously.
“The game is there, he can play the game. The green work is superb, the chipping and putting is superb and that is where it is won and lost.”