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A flared temper is nothing new in golf. Neither are players dropping an F-bomb. But what Robert MacIntyre did at Augusta National was unexpected and caught everyone off guard. First, after a poor approach on the 11th, the Scottish pro yelled, “Jesus F***”. Commentators apologized to the audience. The very next hole, a missed putt, and MacIntyre lost his cool again. Then came the 15th.

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MacIntyre’s approach shot landed on the putting surface and rolled toward the water. He took a drop, but the result was the same: his third shot also plopped into the lake. MacIntyre had had enough of the 15th. The cameras caught him looking at the green and flipping the bird. Patrons were curious to know whether Augusta National officials took any action. Turns out they did, but in a way that’s characteristic of Augusta National.

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Martin Dempster of The Scotsman reported that officials spoke to the two-time PGA Tour winner. He was reprimanded by officials and was reminded of the Code of Conduct of Augusta National. It was expected that MacIntyre would behave himself.  However, it’s not clear whether the left-handed pro was fined or not.

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For the record, there is no official rulebook for the Code of Conduct at Augusta; however, as with many things in the hallowed venue, it’s the unwritten rules that dictate the policy. Just earlier this week, Mark Calcavecchia was booted out of Augusta National for using his phone. Pros are expected to maintain decorum, and profanity is shunned. The Scotsman has had a temper problem, and this wasn’t the first time he was caught cursing on camera.

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Most recently, at the 2026 Valero Texas Open, the 29-year-old cursed on the 8th hole, which was picked up on the hot mic. At the 2024 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, MacIntyre’s outburst was also picked up on the hot mic. He and his team have spoken about the matter.

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“I know I am volatile, and I know the bad language and stuff, but that’s just me… I am trying to do my best out on the golf course. I’m a sportsman, and it is live sport. I’m going to react the way I want to react. I’m not going to change how I react because there is someone standing there or elsewhere,” MacIntyre said on Tuesday at Augusta National.

MacIntyre entered as a favorite after a T2 at the 2026 Valero Texas Open and a T4 at the 2026 The Players Championship. However, the opening round couldn’t have been any farther from what he would have hoped for. He finished at 8-over 80, tying for 82nd place. Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns, who co-led after Round 1, are 13 strokes ahead of him.

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He declined the request to speak with the media after the round. In fact, reportedly, he didn’t even speak to his mom, dad, Carol, Dougie, or one of his sisters, Gill.

However, Bob MacIntyre is not the first to be reprimanded. In fact, many others have even been fined for their actions.

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Professionals reprimanded and fined for foul language and behavior

The PGA Tour enforces strict etiquette, and the Masters is right at the top when it comes to being strict. While many are reprimanded for it, fines are rarely publicized. They are handled privately by the PGA Tour.

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Tyrrell Hatton is one of the professionals who regularly uses swear words on a hot mic. In fact, it has become an annual event for him. The same goes for Shane Lowry, who even said, “F— this place” at Oakmont during the 2025 U.S. Open. Like MacIntyre, Lowry also flipped the bird at the 2025 PGA Championship. Jason Bohn made a “Degeneration X” crotch chop (obscene gesture) toward spectators after a putt at the 2015 Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Patrick Cantlay also used curse words. He dropped an F-bomb at the 2020 Sentry Tournament of Champions. Even the veteran Tiger Woods is not immune to that. He, in fact, according to many reports, is the most fined player in PGA Tour history for on-course language.

While many have used foul language and obscene gestures before, none of those incidents happened at Augusta National. Thus, this incident involving Bob MacIntyre carries far more weight than any other incident.

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Written by

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Kailash Bhimji Vaviya

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Kailash Vaviya is a Golf Journalist at EssentiallySports, covering both the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. His reporting spans major championship contention, player performance, and the ongoing tensions between the two circuits, from the financial pressures LIV players face to the tour politics shaping where careers go. He has followed golf closely since his college years, and that long-running familiarity informs how he covers the game, placing week-to-week results within the bigger structural stories around them. Before joining EssentiallySports, Kailash wrote for Comic Book Resources (CBR) and Forbes, where he developed a research-driven approach to sports and media reporting. He brings that same attention to accuracy and structure to his golf work, with particular depth on the business and political side of the professional game alongside the competitive storylines that define each tournament week.

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Shreya Singh

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