‘Almost in Tears’ – Robert MacIntyre Launches Club, Smashes Bag in Furious Open Moment

Royal Portrush, July 20 — The pressure of Sunday at The Open Championship boiled over for Robert MacIntyre in dramatic fashion, as the fiery Scot let his frustrations show during a tense final round.

Caught in the thick of the action, MacIntyre’s temper got the best of him after a wayward approach shot on the par-4 11th. With cameras rolling, the 27-year-old launched his iron across the fairway before hammering his bag with such force that even on-course commentators winced. The sound of the club cracking echoed loudly, and MacIntyre’s caddie kept a wary distance.

“I was almost in tears,” MacIntyre later admitted. “It’s The Open. You dream of this moment your whole life. And then to just feel it slipping away… it hurts.”

The emotional outburst came as MacIntyre was fighting to stay in contention on a windswept day at Royal Portrush. A double bogey earlier on the front nine had already thrown him off rhythm, and the 11th proved to be the breaking point.

Known for wearing his heart on his sleeve, MacIntyre didn’t hold back in his post-round comments, expressing both his disappointment and the weight of the moment.

“I wasn’t trying to put on a show. That was real. I just care that much,” he said. “Maybe I let the emotions get the better of me, but this isn’t just another tournament. This is everything.”

Despite the meltdown, the Oban native managed to steady himself coming down the stretch, carding a closing 74 to remain inside the top 20—a respectable finish, though far from the result he had hoped for after a strong start to the week.

Golf fans online were quick to debate the incident, with some defending his passion and others calling for more composure from the rising star. Either way, the moment served as a stark reminder of just how mentally demanding the major stage can be.

This was not the first time MacIntyre has shown visible frustration in competition, but Sunday’s outburst was perhaps the most intense of his young career. Still, he remained apologetic after the round.

“I’ll learn from it. I’ve got to,” he said. “It’s not how I want to carry myself, even if it shows how much I care.”

As MacIntyre packs up his clubs and looks ahead to the remainder of the season, the fire is clearly still burning. But so too is the need for control—a balance every great player must learn.

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