Robert MacIntyre carded another extraordinary round on Friday at the BMW Championship and maintained his top spot, holding a five-shot lead over Scottie Scheffler entering Saturday. The Scot is looking to cap off his second season on the PGA Tour with a victory, having already earned a second-place finish at the US Open.

MacIntyre’s excellent performance this year has caught the attention of fans and the press. Answering questions after the second round at Caves Valley, the 29-year-old cited several factors, including a life-changing piece of advice he received from his legendary compatriot Andy Murray.

“To be honest, I got told by a very successful Scottish athlete that sleep is the most important thing that he learnt in his career, and it’s something that I really prioritize before a day is my sleep,” MacIntyre told reporters in a video posted to X by Golf Digest’s Jamie Kennedy. “Probably one of the greatest sportsmen, Andy Murray. When I played the Pro-Am with him (2024 BMW PGA Championship) it was one of the things I asked him, and he really said the biggest thing he learnt for recovery was his sleep, so let’s get the head down.”

robert macintyre andy murray
Robert MacIntyre of Scotland and Andy Murray walk on the fourth hole during the Pro-Am prior to the BMW PGA Championship 2024 at Wentworth Club on September 18, 2024 in Virginia Water, England.
Robert MacIntyre of Scotland and Andy Murray walk on the fourth hole during the Pro-Am prior to the BMW PGA Championship 2024 at Wentworth Club on September 18, 2024 in Virginia Water, England.
Warren Little/Getty Images

Murray is well known for his long and successful career, in which he won more than 70% of his matches. His resume includes 46 professional titles, three Grand Slam trophies, and two Olympic gold medals, among other accolades. It’s no wonder one of his pieces of advice resonated so much with MacIntyre.

The native of Orban, Scotland, had an excellent first season on the PGA Tour, winning two tournaments. Still, his performance was a bit inconsistent, as he missed the cut in 10 of the 25 events he played.

This year, his performance has been much more balanced. He hasn’t won, but he’s missed only two cuts in 21 starts and has finished in nine top 25s, including five top 10s.

MacIntyre mentioned other details that have helped him achieve that consistency, in addition to the rest recommended by Murray.

“We know statistically that I was slower in the mornings,” he said Kennedy’s video. “My scoring average wasn’t as good in the morning as it was in the afternoon. We looked at that. We checked out why that was. We’ve not scientifically found out the answer.

“We’ve kind of worked it out between my team and I, from bands to heart rate monitors to everything, and I’m warming up now before my rounds, stretching, doing some stuff in the gym before I play now so that when I get out there, I’m ready to go.”

With rounds of 62-64 in the BMW Championship, MacIntyre is on track to avoid ending the current season without a win. However, he’s clear that the job is far from done.

“It’s only 36 holes gone,” he said in the video. “There’s a long way to go.”

More Golf: PGA Tour Fan Favorite Gets Brutally Honest About Playoff Expectations