Matthias Schwab set the early pace in the British Masters with a six-under-par 66 in the first round at The Belfry on Wednesday.
The Austrian, somewhat surprisingly denied a place in the field for next week's US PGA Championship, the second major of the year, shot seven birdies and just a single bogey.
Scotland's Calum Hill was just one stroke behind in second place with South Africa's Louis de Jager tied for third two shots further back while his countrymen Dean Burmester and Justing Harding were a shot behind de Jager.
Meanwhile Germany's Martin Kaymer, a two-time major winner, was even further back after a 74.
McIntyre and Kaymer, however, will both travel to Kiawah Island for the PGA Championship but a quirk of the qualifying system means Schwab is set to miss out.
Players inside the world's top 100 are invited to the tournament, with more added if they are required to complete the field.
Twelve players outside the top 100 on May 9 received invitations, with 10 of those ranked between 101 and 122.
But Schwab, the world number 113, missed out.
"I have no idea where I am on the alternate list. They don't really communicate anything," Schwab told Britain's Press Association agency.
"But I should have played better the last few weeks and that would have taken care of it. If I get in by Friday or Saturday I would love to play in it, but I wouldn't travel as an alternate.
"I'm focused on the European Tour and there's no guarantee, even if you play, that will earn ranking points."
Leading first-round scores in the 1.85 million British Masters at The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield, England, on Wednesday (GBR and IRL unless stated, par 72):
66 - Matthias Schwab (AUT)
67 - Calum Hill
68 - Bernd Wiesberger (AUT), Guido Migliozzi (ITA), Julian Suri (USA), Matthieu Pavon (FRA), James Morrison, Richard Bland, Clement Sordet (FRA), Louis de Jager (RSA), Max Schmitt (GER)
69 Danny Willett, Chris Wood, Dean Burmester (RSA), Andrea Pavan (ITA), Justin Harding (RSA), Andy Sullivan, Adria Arnaus (ESP), Ross Fisher, Joel Stalter (FRA), Richard Mansell
70 - Mikko Korhonen (FIN), Eddie Pepperell, Richie Ramsay, Chris Paisley, Adrian Meronk (POL), Laurie Canter, Aaron Cockerill (CAN), Garrick Porteous, Dale Whitnell, Josh Geary (NZL)
71 - Thorbjoern Olesen (DEN), Sami Valimaki (FIN), Pablo Larrazabal (ESP), Steven Brown, Alexander Levy (FRA), Joachim B. Hansen (DEN), Robert MacIntyre, Michael Lorenzo-Vera (FRA), Jordan Smith, Andrew Johnston, Edoardo Molinari (ITA), Soeren Kjeldsen (DEN), Sebastian Garcia (ESP), Alejandro Canizares (ESP), Carlos Pigem (ESP), Johannes Veerman (USA), David Coupland, Toby Tree, Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (FRA), Pedro Oriol (ESP)