Robert MacIntyre is a talented player. His play over the last few years has certainly been noticeable.
The 29-year-old has risen to 12th in the world rankings, and his emergence has clearly accentuated his Scottish roots.
MacIntyre’s won twice on the PGA Tour – at the Scottish Open and Canadian Open. He’s also played on two consecutive Euro Ryder Cup teams in 2023 and last year at Bethpage. In 2025 he nearly snared his first major triumph and ultimately finished solo second to J.J. Spaun at the US Open at Oakmont.
MacIntyre’s standing in the game has clearly elevated himself but a recent boorish behavior incident at last week’s Masters has garnered rightful attention and can only serve as a negative anchor around his growing golf skills.
MacIntyre was heard by microphones at the tee of the par-3 12th uttering words not suitable for consumption.
Three holes later he simply imploded after finding water at the par-5 15th and eventually leaving the green with a quadruple bogey.
Adding insult to his dreadful score was his flipping an obscene gesture at the hole. That situation was caught on camera and only served to reinforce an image of a petulant juvenile golfer.
MacIntyre missed the cut and decided to bolt the premises even after being invited to the media center. Wrong move on his part.
One would have thought after calming down he would have penned a somewhat contrite apology and then have his agent post it for the world to see what a complete idiot he was at the Masters.
But that did not happen.
Shortly afterwards, MacIntyre posted a video in which he showed himself as a gnome flashing the same obscene gesture — a trite manipulation from the Masters gnome.
There’s little question Masters officials were not pleased.
Professional golf has standards in terms of how players conduct themselves. During the same Masters Sergio Garcia once again displayed his desire to act like a child when breaking his driver after a poor tee shot at hole 2. Garcia later apologized but, in the past, the fiery Spaniard has displayed outbursts of a similar sort.
Handling poor shots is part of golf. As a professional your actions are seen by others and worse yet – mimicked by younger golfers who take the wrong cue that acting like a fool is fine and dandy.
During his prime playing years, Tiger Woods was known to offer a few “adult” words when a shot went astray. Tossing of club was also done.
Unfortunately, the PGA Tour has operated in the shadows in such matters. The Tour’s brain trust long ago opted to handle all discipline matters privately. One does not know if a person has been fined / suspended or if anything has happened at all because such resolutions are never disclosed.
The Tour believes any public disclosure would only serve to keep the issue alive for public consumption. The reality is that the announcement of what the discipline action is would likely serve as a meaningful deterrent and end such childish displays.
Robert MacIntyre has the talent to be even more of a force in professional golf.
But when one doesn’t apologize and then opts to double-down in such a mindless manner – there are serious questions if he is even aware of how he comes off in such situations.
No doubt temper can serve as a motivator but doing so via public displays is simply a dead end.
One can only hope those in MacIntyre’s camp will read him the riot act.
In short — it’s quite simple.
Wake up and smell the coffee, Robert. The antics are tiresome, repugnant and beneath you as a professional golfer.
End of story.
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