Bob MacIntyre received an official warning for serious misconduct during the final round of The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale after angrily slamming his driver into the ground on the 16th tee. The disciplinary action was administered under the new code of conduct established by the R&A.
MacIntyre signed off with a final round of 71 to finish the tournament at two under par, placing him eight shots behind the winner. A week that had started positively for MacIntyre, who was four shots back at the halfway point, ended in undignified fashion.
The emotional outburst on the 16th tee was the latest incident for MacIntyre, who had likened his temperament to a kettle at the Genesis Scottish Open just last week.
History of On-Course Meltdowns
The frustration that consumed MacIntyre at Royal Birkdale follows similar incidents earlier this year. Back at the Sony Open in January, he snapped his putter and paid a heavy price after blowing a chance to win the tournament.
"My attitude cost me this golf tournament," MacIntyre reflected at the time. "I can't be allowing that. My attitude has got to be spot-on for 72 holes."
Another meltdown occurred at The Masters in April, where a spectacular on-course display led to MacIntyre being reprimanded by the Green Jackets at Augusta National.
Reaction to Official Misconduct Warning
MacIntyre remained unrepentant and unwilling to change after receiving his official warning at Royal Birkdale. "I expect to get a few of them in my career," MacIntyre said after his final round. "Yeah, I run hot, so be it."
"I'm going to do it for the rest of my career," he continued. "I try and toe the line, but when you feel like you're playing a golf course that you can hit it pretty much anywhere and there's no real punishment, then you do hit one slightly off line and you get the biggest punishment you can possibly get, it's just a sore one. Again, I'm going to react aggressively at times. It's part of my DNA."
Asked whether there are grey areas regarding offences under the new policy, MacIntyre dismissed the rules. "To be honest, I couldn't care less," he replied. "If I got a two-shot penalty, it's my fault. A warning, it's my fault. I don't really worry about it."
Insisting he will not alter his approach, MacIntyre compared the sanction to his school days. "It's just a warning. I've had plenty of warnings in school. I won't change. I get a step over the line sometimes with my frustration, but it's part of me."
He argued that removing such emotion would leave only dispassionate competitors. "If we take that out of every player in the game of golf, you've got guys that don't budge when they do something, who are very disciplined," MacIntyre said. "Then there's other people, probably mainly Europeans, who wear their heart on their sleeve and are a bit volatile."
"We're going to cross the line every now and again and get told off or get a two-shot penalty every now and again," he added. "But it's just the way we are. If we didn't have that, people wouldn't stick in and watch golf."
Playing Alongside Cameron Young
MacIntyre was never in contention to win the tournament during his final round, finishing eight shots behind the winner. However, his playing partner Cam Young surged up the leaderboard with a final-round 64.
While Young attempted to maintain focus and win the championship, MacIntyre was slamming clubs and behaving reactively on the course. The contrast highlighted concerns that MacIntyre's temper is becoming a persistent issue in his career without any willingness on his part to reflect or apologize.
Upcoming Schedule and Break
Following the event at Royal Birkdale, MacIntyre will take a three-week break from competitive golf before returning to action in August for the FedExCup play-offs.
"Yeah, three weeks off now, I need it," MacIntyre said. "Yeah, I don't know if I'll touch a golf club in three weeks. I'll go and enjoy my time off. Yeah, see where we come back in Memphis and hopefully we're in good form."
Assessment of Course Setup and Design
Reflecting on his performances in the majors this year, MacIntyre admitted that Royal Birkdale did not suit him. "Coming in this week, I thought I had a real good chance," he said. "Even going out today, I thought I had a good chance. But the more I play that golf course, the more I realise that it doesn't set up that well for me."
"There are certain holes that the longer hitters, the guys are probably cruising it at 184 ball speed, are taking drivers on and there's no punishment," MacIntyre observed. "I feel like that's the way professional golf is going. I get we're trying to get crowds in, but we've still got to have, links golf needs gorse bushes."
He cited the 9th hole as an example of modern course design. "I'm watching everyone now, the longer hitters, bomb driver down the 9th. There's one gorse bush down the left-hand side. That hole reminds me of I think it's 12 or something at Portrush, the dogleg left to right before the long par-5."
"I mean, it needs gorse bushes," MacIntyre said, noting how his playing partner took advantage. "Cam has hit a slightly wider one, but he knows it's fine and then he's pitched up to six feet and holed it."
MacIntyre voiced concern that classic venues are being softened. "I feel like links golf courses are designed to be, it's like you go and take the gorse bushes out at Troon on that one right by the railway, that's what I feel is going to happen. That's the way I feel the new designers are going. So yeah, it wasn't to be my week. But always next year."
