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Thursday, April 23, 2026

MacIntyre risks Masters backlash after flipping middle finger

Scottish golf star Robert MacIntyre risked the wrath of Augusta’s green jackets after cursing and flipping his middle finger during a tempestuous, foul-mouthed first round of the Masters. 

The world No 8 endured a dreadful opening day at Augusta National, which is famous for its strict rules. He shot an eight-over-par 80 that leaves him in a tie for 82nd.

MacIntyre’s emotions boiled over on the 15th hole, when he twice found the water and cameras caught him putting his middle finger up in the direction of his ball.

Astonishingly, he went on to make a quadruple bogey nine on the par five – despite finding the fairway with his drive. 

A few holes earlier, the Scot had miscued his tee shot on the par-three 12th – the second hole of Amen Corner – and could be heard saying: ‘Jesus, f***.’

His mood did not improve from there, with five more shots falling before he reached the clubhouse.  

Robert MacIntyre was caught cursing and flipping his middle finger at the Masters
The Scottish world No 8
He endured a dreadful first round

Incredibly, MacIntyre was one under par after four holes. From there, however, he shipped nine shots in a 14-hole stretch that included three bogeys, one double bogey and one quadruple bogey.

By the end of day one, the Scot was one of 10 players who had shot 80 or worse at Augusta. MacIntyre is 13 shots off the two leaders, Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns.

He is not the first player to risk upsetting the powers that be at Augusta. Jose Luis Ballester almost landed himself in hot water last year when he urinated into the iconic Rae’s Creek during his first Masters.

The then-amateur, who was playing alongside World No. 1 and defending champion Scottie Scheffler at the time, was caught sprinting to the Amen Corner landmark on the 13th and promptly relieved himself to the cheers from the gallery.

However, the Spaniard, who has since joined LIV Golf, avoided the wrath of the Augusta officials over his unscheduled pit stop when he was permitted to return to tee it up for the second round alongside Scheffler and Justin Thomas.

Billy Horschel found himself in a spot of bother four years prior when he suffered a meltdown at the seventh.

During the third round of the 2021 tournament, Horschel was caught losing his temper after an errant shot. He was seen repeatedly slamming his club into his bag in visible frustration. He later issued a public apology to the club and its patrons.

Jose Luis Ballester almost landed himself in hot water in 2025 when he urinated in Rae's Creek

Tyrrell Hatton, known for his fiery temperament, was unable to keep one of his infamous outburst at bay in 2022 when he was caught calling his own game ‘disgusting.’ 

Last year, his LIV Golf teammate, Jon Rahm, was the culprit when he slammed his own club and motioned to break it over his knee.

They are in good company, too. Even Tiger Woods, who has won five times at Augusta, has been known to lose his cool around the unyielding course. 

In 2012, he kicked and slammed his club multiple times throughout the tournament in moments of fury.

MastersRory McIlroy

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