Robert MacIntyre has spoken publicly for the first time since his emotional outburst during the final round of The Open Championship went viral, offering an honest explanation for his actions and the emotions behind them.
The 27-year-old Scot was caught on camera flinging a club across the fairway and hammering his golf bag after a disappointing shot on the 11th hole at Royal Portrush. The moment, broadcast live and quickly shared across social media, sparked widespread discussion among fans and pundits, with reactions ranging from empathy to criticism.
Speaking after the round, MacIntyre didn’t shy away from the incident.
“I was almost in tears,” he admitted. “I care so much about this game, about The Open especially. It’s a tournament I grew up dreaming about. When things started slipping, the frustration just got the better of me.”
MacIntyre had entered the final round within striking distance of the leaders and looked poised to make a charge. But a string of poor shots, including a costly double bogey, derailed his momentum. The pressure of competing on home soil, coupled with the weight of expectation, boiled over at the 11th.
“People will say I should keep it together, and they’re probably right,” MacIntyre said. “But that was raw emotion. That was me being human. I’m not proud of smashing the bag, but I’m also not going to pretend it didn’t come from a place of passion.”
The young Scotsman, known for his fiery competitiveness and openness with fans, has generally carried himself with humility throughout his career. But Sunday’s outburst offered a rare glimpse into just how much these moments mean to him.
When asked whether he regretted the display, MacIntyre was measured in his response.
“Regret? In some ways, yes. I never want to be a bad example, especially to younger fans. But I also think it’s important people see how much this means to us. Golf isn’t a game of robots—it’s tough, it’s emotional, and sometimes it breaks you.”
Despite the blow-up, MacIntyre composed himself and managed to finish the round without further incident, closing with a 74 and securing a spot inside the top 20—a solid result, but far from the dream finish he had hoped for.
As he looks ahead to the rest of the season, MacIntyre says he’ll take the experience as a lesson.
“I’ll learn from it. I know I have to channel my emotions better. But I’d rather care too much than not enough. That’s who I am.”
With talent, heart, and a touch of volatility, Robert MacIntyre remains one of the most compelling young figures in golf. And if Sunday proved anything, it’s that he’ll keep fighting—for every shot, and for the future he still believes he can build.
