Defending champion Robert MacIntyre is grateful for the support of Tyrrell Hatton and Matt Fitzpatrick as the trio juggle being new dads with elite golf at this week's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
MacIntyre’s partner Shannon gave birth to their first child, Findlay, in January, and he has since come to terms with a new normal on and off the course while being a dual member of the DP World Tour and PGA Tour based in his native Scotland.
But he doesn't have to turn far for advice, with Hatton becoming a father to a daughter, Althea, in May and more recently Fitzpatrick welcoming newborn son, Jack, earlier this month.
The Ryder Cup team-mates have each won the title at one of the DP World Tour's marquee tournaments, with Hatton a record three-time winner and Fitzpatrick enjoying a historic double across the individual and team events in 2023.
And in a week where family takes centre stage with many of the professionals, including Fitzpatrick and Hatton linking up with parents, the shared experience of the trio outside the ropes is something MacIntyre values.
"I speak to Tyrrell and Fitzy quite a bit... they are probably two of the guys I would speak to the most, especially Tyrrell, away from golf," he said.
"So just having that, something more in common, and you are just laughing about stuff.
"It's not so much for me, Tyrrell and Matt, it's probably more our partners that there's more things in common now. There's more things that you can chat about, go and do things together with the kids.
"Of course, they are now all so little, they are probably not doing much but as they grow, you'll almost be able to make pals for the kids when they are on the road again."
MacIntyre is making his third start in four weeks as he returns to his homeland bouyed by two finishes inside the top 15 at the Amgen Irish Open and BMW PGA Championship earlier this month.
My life has completely changed and priorities have changed but I still want to be the best golfer I can be
After a productive campaign stateside that saw him reach the Tour Championship for a third year running, the 30-year-old believes he can improve with juggling family and professional demands.
"Life is different," he said. "I really have to manage my time better. I've not done that well enough probably in the last, probably three, four months. I've been all over the place, I think. Doing X, Y and Z, performing on the golf course. I've spoken to everyone about it. Certain things have been put in place going forward.
"Yeah, now my life has completely changed and priorities have changed but I still want to be the best golfer I can be. The things that I'm doing just now, I'm probably not going to achieve the things I want to achieve.
"I need to start tweaking things and putting more things in place if I want to achieve what I want to achieve."
Having won twice in Scotland in the past two years, with his Genesis Scottish Open success preceding his Dunhill triumph, MacIntyre has made clear victory at The Open at St Andrews is his biggest remaining career ambition.
And with the historic Old Course hosting the Major Championship next summer and being one of three co-hosts this week, MacIntyre has the chance to get in some preparation on a layout which has undergone restoration over the past 12 months.
"I think it's just learning what it takes to play the course," he said. "Certain holes you're going to attack, or certain holes, you accept bogey.
"Just accept certain shots, I'm not going to try to be perfect, and there's so many opportunities if you play well. I know now if I do certain things well, you should play well or score well."
MacIntyre is unlikely to be short of support as he bids to become the first Scot to successfully defend the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship crown and he endeared himself to more fans by visiting members of the St Andrews Links Junior Golf Association to host a golf clinic and Q&A session on Tuesday.
Reflecting on the experience and giving back to the next generation of golfers, he said: "Must have been about 40 kids, and yeah, for me, junior golf is the most important thing.
"I was once a junior going through the ranks, playing club stuff, county stuff, national stuff, and it was great to see so many youngsters.
"It was good to see so many of them out there, and to be honest, good to see so many parents there, as well. But the biggest part was just letting the kids have fun."
