Bob MacIntyre endured a roller‑coaster round at Wentworth, turning four under into a level‑par 72, then voiced uncertainty about heading to the Dubai Play‑Offs.
The BMW PGA Championship returned to the West Course at Wentworth for its second day, and Scottish rookie Bob MacIntyre delivered perhaps the most bewildering nine-hole stretch of his career. Partnered with Swedes Alex Noren and Ludvig Åberg, he opened the round four under par, only to tumble back to even after a cascade of mishaps that left even his caddie shaking his head.
From four under to double-bogeys: the early-round collapse
MacIntyre’s bright start was built on a pair of birdies on Thursday, but the back-nine quickly unraveled. On the par-3 10th his tee shot landed short, forcing a drop that spiralled into a double-bogey six at 11.
The trouble continued at the par-5 12th when a well-placed drive left him twenty yards short of the pin; his ball plugged in the bunker, and a thin escape that struck a cameraman narrowly kept the ball in bounds.
A second six followed, leaving MacIntyre two strokes worse than his opening momentum.
Moments of redemption
Despite the setbacks, MacIntyre showed resilience. A thin 7-iron from 190 yards found the pin on the 15th, securing an eagle-2 that sparked a grin and a shake of the head. The redemption continued on the par-5 17th, where a 247-yard utility-club approach set up another eagle in just three holes. He summed the experience with a wry observation: “I probably had the unluckiest stretch of a few holes and then the luckiest stretch of a few holes.” The final tally was an even-par 72, a score that belied the emotional roller-coaster of the day.
Frustration and honesty: MacIntyre’s post-round comments
When asked about his performance, the Scotsman did not mince words. “It’s golf and it’s a mad game we play. I’m getting fed up,” he said, echoing the frustration he felt after a similar collapse at the Irish Open the week before. He admitted his mindset had shifted from confidence to “jockeying for the middle of the pack.” Yet he also credited a dose of raw luck for turning the tide: “Yeah, if I am being honest, it was just luck that I turned it around today.”
Looking ahead to the DP World Tour Play-Offs
Beyond Wentworth, MacIntyre’s focus turns to the season-ending DP World Tour Play-Offs in the United Arab Emirates. With the Abu Dhabi Championship and the DP World Tour Championship slated for November, he expressed unease about travelling to the Middle East amid ongoing regional tensions. “I don’t know what I am going to play in,” he told media, adding that he will monitor the situation closely before deciding. Fellow Scotsman Matt Fitzpatrick echoed the sentiment, noting personal concerns after becoming a new father.
Field strength and prize purse at Wentworth
The Wentworth event boasts a star-studded field of 144 men, including major champions and Ryder Cup stalwarts such as Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Viktor Hovland and Tommy Fleetwood. American heavyweights Brooks Koepka and Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed also feature, while two-time winner Billy Horschel sits out to safeguard his PGA Tour status. The tournament offers a total purse of $9 million, with the champion taking home $1,530,000.
Other notable performances
While MacIntyre struggled, fellow Scotsman David Law climbed to four under heading into the weekend, finishing with a birdie on the 18th to post a 71. Ewen Ferguson, fresh off a top-ten Irish Open, sits three under, and the cut was set at two under, leaving several hopefuls on the edge of elimination.
MacIntyre’s blend of misfortune, spectacular eagles and candid reflection encapsulates the unpredictable nature of a Rolex Series event, while his looming decision about the Dubai Play-Offs adds an extra layer of intrigue to the closing weeks of the season.
