PGA Tour: Robert MacIntyre's Frustration Over Putter Break and Attitude
Scotland's Robert MacIntyre had a strong showing at the PGA Tour's season-opening Sony Open in Hawaii, carding a best-of-the-day 63 to finish in a share of fourth place. However, his performance was overshadowed by a frustrating incident that occurred earlier in the tournament. MacIntyre, who was in contention for a third career PGA Tour victory, snapped his putter after missing a three-foot putt on the 18th green on Friday afternoon at Waialae Country Club.
This setback cost him a shot at the title, as he finished four strokes behind the home winner, Chris Gotterup. Despite this disappointment, MacIntyre's performance moved him up one place to sixth in the world rankings, surpassing another American, JJ Spaun.
The 29-year-old's frustration was evident in his comments to the Golf Channel, where he attributed his early exit to his 'attitude'. He emphasized the importance of maintaining the right mindset for the full 72 holes, not just the first 36.
MacIntyre's round included five birdies in a stellar 30 on the front nine in Honolulu, and he further improved his score with birdies at the 15th and 18th holes, finishing the week at 12 under par. He expressed satisfaction with his performance, particularly his putting, despite the setback.
The US Open runner-up also highlighted the significance of attitude, drawing a contrast to his performance last year, where he felt he had a great handle on his mindset. Meanwhile, Gotterup's closing 64 secured him a two-stroke victory over Ryan Gerard, with Patrick Rodgers finishing one stroke further back.
England's Harry Hall shared sixth place with a 69, while Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, who finished joint third at the Dubai Invitational, remains the top British player in the world rankings, second behind Scottie Scheffler and one ahead of Tommy Fleetwood.
