MacIntyre not fazed by criticism of Masters behaviour

Robert MacIntyre, the 29-year-old Scottish golfer, returned to PGA Tour play with a strong five-under par 66 at the RBC Heritage. Despite facing backlash for his conduct during the Masters, he remains undeterred, emphasizing his focus on emotional control. His performance in the opening round, three strokes behind leader Ludvig Aberg, marks a promising start to his tournament campaign.

Controversy at Augusta

MacIntyre’s behaviour at the Masters sparked debate. After a quadruple bogey on the 15th hole, he pointed a middle finger at the green, later clubbing his wedge into the ground following a poor shot on 17. His frustration was also evident on-course, with audible outbursts captured on microphones. To further illustrate his attitude, he shared a satirical Instagram image of a gnome resembling himself, complete with the same gesture.

“I know what I did isn’t the best way of me doing things, but I wear my heart on my sleeve,” MacIntyre explained to Sky Sports. “I’m trying my best to control the emotions – I work with someone back home. There was a lot going on and [I am] disappointed with that.” “I’m very good at putting things behind me, things that get said elsewhere don’t faze me.”

While not issuing a formal apology, MacIntyre believes his mindset and support system are sufficient for success. “I’ve got my family, friends and team, they are the ones I really listen to,” he stated. “If I’ve done something wrong, they’ll tell me.” He described his approach as a blend of personal expression and collective strategy, adding, “Some people like it, some people don’t, but at the end of the day it’s a job and I come out here to perform the best I can.”

MacIntyre’s recent form at Harbour Town reflects his confidence. “Coming off last week, a disappointing performance, to come into this week I was comfortable with the golf course, comfortable with my game,” he noted. “I tried to put as much of last week behind me as I could. I’m driving it beautifully off the tee, which gives me lots of wedges round here. I didn’t take many chances in the middle part of the round, which was a bit disappointing, but five-under par is always good to start.”