Bob MacIntyre opens up on his bad language in ‘the heat of battle’ at Dunhill Links
Bob MacIntyre spent nearly 15 minutes after his third round at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews, engaging with fans, many of them young, by signing autographs and posing for photos. Afterward, he spoke candidly about his efforts to cut back on swearing during play, following an incident where he was caught using…
Bob MacIntyre spent nearly 15 minutes after his third round at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews, engaging with fans, many of them young, by signing autographs and posing for photos. Afterward, he spoke candidly about his efforts to cut back on swearing during play, following an incident where he was caught using the F-word multiple times during his second round at Kingsbarns, as broadcast on Sky Sports.
Reflecting on the situation, MacIntyre acknowledged the challenges of keeping his emotions in check. After a similar incident at the Irish Open last month, he had already apologized via social media for inappropriate language picked up by on-course microphones. However, he emphasized that the passion and fight he brings to his game wouldn’t change.
In response to questions about the attention his swearing attracted, the Scottish golfer was direct. “I guess it’s the bad language you are talking about,” he said. “Look, it’s live sport. It’s the heat of the battle. You wouldn’t put a microphone on a football pitch or on a referee because you’re going to hear bad language.
“I am trying my best to improve it. The other side of it is I’m Scottish. It is part of our vocab. It’s difficult, but I am conscious of it and I am trying my best not to do it too much.”
MacIntyre explained that while he’s aware of the microphones, he won’t alter the way he communicates with his caddie, Mike Burrow, during their regular exchanges. However, he is making an effort to avoid reacting emotionally to his shots. “I’m trying not to react to the shots as much as I have been,” he admitted.
He further explained that his frustrations often manifest in self-directed anger. After difficult holes, like the double-bogeys on the 18th and 17th during the event, he tends to swear at himself. “I’m not meaning to offend anyone, but it is the heat of the battle. I am red-lining. I am on the edge. Every now and again it is going to come out,” he said.
After carding a 65 on the Old Course, leaving him just outside the top ten at 13 under, MacIntyre took time to interact with the fans, especially the younger ones. “I was one of them when I went to Loch Lomond (to watch the Scottish Open),” he said, adding that while he sometimes may not feel like interacting, it’s important to give back to the kids, who could one day follow in his footsteps.
MacIntyre also mentioned that promoting golf, especially in Scotland, is part of his responsibility as a professional golfer. He and his father, Dougie, birdied the last hole on the Old Course, advancing to the final round in the team event with a score of 28 under, ten shots behind leaders Tyrrell Hatton and his father, Jeff.
