Team Europe’s Robert MacIntyre saw his BMW PGA Championship cut short after falling victim to a rarely enforced “second cut” rule at Wentworth, just weeks before the Ryder Cup.
The 29-year-old Scot advanced through the traditional 36-hole cut at two-under-par, alongside 85 other players. But because the field exceeded 84 competitors heading into Sunday, tournament officials applied a secondary cut, trimming the field to 78. MacIntyre was among 13 players, including Alex Fitzpatrick and Niklas Norgaard, who were eliminated despite finishing above par.
The disappointment came amid a fiery week for MacIntyre, who is known for wearing his emotions on his sleeve. On Friday, he struck a tree with his ball on the 13th hole and later flung his club on the 17th. A day later, he slammed his driver into the ground after a wayward tee shot. Former Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance criticized the outbursts on commentary, saying:
“You almost have to see yourself on television doing something like that to see how silly it looks. He’s very fiery, a great competitor.”
Still, MacIntyre offered a softer side during Saturday’s round, handing his ball to a young fan at the 16th tee.
“I was a kid once asking for a golf ball when players walked off,” he explained. “Maybe that creates a fan for life. Who knows, that kid could go on to do something in the game.”
Despite missing the weekend’s action, MacIntyre still earned Race to Dubai points and prize money. He admitted he accepts the consequences of his emotional play.
“Look, I go absolutely mental on the golf course. I accept that. Away from here, I’m a chilled guy — thoughtful and pretty cheery. But inside the ropes, it’s different.”
MacIntyre will now regroup ahead of the Ryder Cup, where Europe faces Team USA at Bethpage Black in New York.
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