European Ryder Cup star forced out of BMW Championship during third round

Scottish golfer Bob MacIntyre, ranked No. 15 in the world, was forced to withdraw during the third round of the BMW Championship due to a back injury. The 28-year-old, who was competing on Saturday, was visibly struggling with lower back pain throughout the day. Despite his best efforts, MacIntyre made the difficult decision to pull out of the tournament before reaching the 10th hole.

At the time of his withdrawal, MacIntyre was one over par, placing him just outside the top 30. He had started the day in a promising position, tied for 12th in the FedEx Cup standings. Despite this setback, MacIntyre is still expected to advance to the Tour Championship, which is a crucial event for any golfer aiming for the top of the PGA Tour.

MacIntyre’s management team, Bounce Sports Management, announced his withdrawal on social media, stating: “Sadly, we have to announce that Robert MacIntyre has withdrawn from the BMW Championship with a niggling back injury incurred in the last five minutes before his tee time in Round 3. He will now receive treatment in the hope of making the Tour Championship.”

This injury comes at a time when MacIntyre is enjoying one of the best seasons of his career. His consistent performance, marked by a series of top-10 finishes, has propelled him to a career-high No. 15 in the World Golf Rankings, a significant jump from his No. 56 ranking at the beginning of the year. MacIntyre’s season highlights include his first PGA Tour victory at the RBC Canadian Open in June, followed by another win at the Scottish Open in July. His victory at the Scottish Open made him the second Scottish golfer, after Sandy Lyle, to win twice in one season.

These victories have not only solidified MacIntyre’s place among the world’s top golfers but have also earned him substantial prize money. He has pocketed over $5.4 million (£4 million) this season, bringing his total career earnings on the PGA Tour to nearly $7.9 million (£6 million).

Reflecting on his win at the Scottish Open, MacIntyre said, “I had a tear in my eye before I hit the putt. I was getting emotional before I read the putt. I still had a job to do. This was the one I wanted, and it was the one I got. I can’t believe it’s happened. You have got to celebrate the good times!”

As the BMW Championship marks the penultimate event of the 2024 PGA Tour season, all eyes are now on the Tour Championship, which is set to begin in Georgia on September 1. Fans and fellow competitors alike are hopeful that MacIntyre will recover in time to compete in this crucial tournament.