Robert MacIntyre clearly had enough. And the Masters officials did, too.
After MacIntyre’s ball sailed into the water for the first of two times on the 15th hole at Augusta National, he let his emotions get the best of him, flipping his middle finger to the camera. MacIntyre finished with a quadruple bogey on the hole.
He also smashed his club into the ground after his second shot on the 17th hole and could be heard swearing on the 12th and 13th.
“It’s now going left to right, Jesus f–k!” he said after hole 12.
MacIntyre has since been reprimanded by the Masters officials and was reminded of the code of conduct, per The Scotsman.
It’s behavior that you would likely be able to get away with at other tournaments, but Augusta holds itself to a higher standard.
He finished the first day of the Masters tied for 82nd place in the 91-player field. MacIntyre must reach the top 50 to make the cut.
MacIntyre started to mount a comeback on Friday, making three birdies on the front nine after opening with a double bogey.
Following his outburst on Thursday, he also refused to speak to reporters.
It’s an underwhelming start for the Scot, who entered the 90th annual Masters ranked eighth in the world behind the likes of reigning champion Rory McIlroy and top-ranked Scottie Scheffler. He also excelled at the Players Championship and the Valero Texas Open earlier this year, placing fourth and tied for second, respectively.
His antics Thursday didn’t come out of the blue, though.
MacIntyre was heard saying “that was f—ing s–t” at the Valero Texas Open as well last week. Speaking to the media afterward, he stood his ground.
“I know I am volatile and I know the bad language and stuff, MacIntyre said, “but that’s just me.”
He doubled down on that sentiment before the Masters began on Tuesday.
“I am trying to do my best out on the golf course,” MacIntyre said. “I’m a sportsman and it is a live sport. I’m going to react the way I want to react. I’m not going to change how I react because there is someone standing there or elsewhere.
“I am trying to do the best that I can and I will take my time after to go and sign autographs with kids and what not, but, when I am playing golf I am red-lining.”
