Robert MacIntyre is not happy. The defending champion at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship found his rhythm broken by a buzzing intruder in the sky. While the Scotsman managed to card a one-under-par opening round, the real story involves his anger toward a camera drone. He shouted directly at the operator multiple times.
This isn’t a new issue for the player. He has dealt with similar flying distractions before. The noise from the drone circling above seemed to ruin his concentration. MacIntyre told Yahoo that having these devices buzzing around him during tournaments “drives me insane.” It is a clear sign that the modern game faces new challenges from technology that was meant to capture it.
A Pattern of Frustration
The incident at Carnoustie was just the latest in a series of run-ins. At the Dunhill Links, the wind played a role in the chaos. The drone struggled to stay in position due to buffeting from the wind. This movement created a sound like a revving car right when he was trying to hit. “So when they’re too close in these conditions I struggle with it,” MacIntyre said. His opening round required him to step away from several shots due to distracting noise levels.
Following that event, a DP World Tour rules official engaged him in conversation. MacIntyre explained his side of the story to the official. “I was just asking him what’s going on because they’ve obviously heard me swear a few times straight at the camera guy,” he said. The frustration built up over the course of the round.
“I asked him twice, previous to the eighth about the drone, and then I step off the shot on the eighth, before I hit the shot I gave the guy the nod, I can hear it still, like it’s too close,” he recalled. The distraction led to a poor shot. “Step off the shot, not fully commited because I’m just thinking about the drone and then, yeah, hit a bad shot and then I step off my putt on the 18th because there’s a drone there,” he added.
The situation escalated to the point where he considered drastic action. “If it didn’t go away, I was going to start throwing my clubs at it,” MacIntyre admitted. He noted that the tournament director would need to address the issue. “We’ll see what the tournament director’s got to say,” he stated.
MacIntyre’s anger highlights a growing friction between broadcast technology and player performance. The game of golf requires intense focus, especially on difficult shots. A drone hovering nearby creates an auditory and visual disruption that no player wants. When the wind blows, the drone makes noise, and that noise mimics a revving engine. It is the last thing a player needs when lining up a shot.
Performance has suffered for other golfers such as Jon Rahm, who faced annoyance from drone operators at tournaments. This suggests the problem is systemic, not just an isolated case. The DP World Tour and other organizations must find a balance. They need to capture the action for fans on TV and online, but they cannot let the cameras ruin the competition. If the noise continues, more players will lose their tempers. The rules might need to change to keep these devices at a safe distance during play.
The focus now shifts to the tournament director.
