‘I go mental!’ Robert MacIntyre reveals anger management ritual ahead of The Open

Robert MacIntyre was in entertaining form as he addressed the media ahead of the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush.

Robert MacIntyre has revealed the post-round ritual that helps him get over a bad day on the golf course – but it’s not one we’d recommend for the recreational golfers out there.

The Scot struggled at the Renaissance Club last week in his attempt to defend his national title, barely making the cut and eventually finishing in a tie for 65th. 

In the aftermath of a particularly disappointing Sunday, the 28-year-old said there was something he “wasn’t really enjoying” but stopped short of revealing exactly what it was.

He did, however, sum up his week as “horrific” and it appears he found a way to release his frustration before switching focus to this week’s Open at Royal Portrush.

“Yeah, I’m pretty good at telling everyone give me an hour,” the Scot said at Portrush. “I can go as mental as I want for an hour, and after that, just back to life.”

Asked about what going mental looks like for the likeable man from Oban, he added: “I can do whatever I want for an hour. Just anything I want. You can break things. You can literally do whatever I want for an hour. After that hour is gone, my job’s done. 

“For an hour and a half before my round, two hours before my round, I’m preparing, so nobody gets in my way. It’s warm-up, stretching, gym work, all of that. So there’s a five-, six-, seven-, eight-hour window that I’m working.

“If you have a bad day at work, you’re going to be annoyed. It happens more often than not for me as well. It’s just about once that’s gone, it’s been difficult in the past for me to reset, but nowadays, there’s so many golf tournaments and you don’t know what’s coming the next week.”

While some golfers are more naturally composed on the course and able to keep their emotions in check, others are more vocal and expressive. MacIntyre falls into the latter category, but he insists letting go of any festering anger in the moment helps fire him up to play his best golf.

“I’m fiery on the golf course when I’m in tournament rounds,” he continued. “I’ll drop, I was going to say the odd, but a few bad words in there. I’ll hit the bag. I’ll say some harsh things, but that’s what gets me going.

“If I walk around and I’m all happy I just made a double bogey or people are clapping, thanks very much, that’s not me. I’m needing to smash something up. I want to rip a glove. I do something to get that anger out. It’s better out than in for me. Some people it’s better holding it, but for me it’s get it out and then just do not let it affect the next shot. Simple.”

Whereas in 2019, MacIntyre was still finding his feet as a young pro, he arrives in Portrush this time around as the World No.14 and a legitimate contender to lift the Claret Jug following his runner-up finish at the US Open.

He also has the Ryder Cup on his mind. At Bethpage in New York, the 2025 dust-up is set to be one of the more hostile editions, so MacIntyre’s fiery nature could be what is required for Luke Donald’s side to pull off the upset.

With both teams starting to take shape, MacIntyre is delighted with the current state of European golf and the form of those likely to be on the plane.

“I think it’s absolutely brilliant [European golf at the moment],” MacIntyre continued. “For me I’ve had a good spell in the US to get me right up there, but when you look at the European winners on Tour this year, it’s as good as ever. 

“The team’s going to be ready to go, and Bethpage is going to be… it’s going to be tough, obviously, with the crowd, but it’s going to be the same as Rome that we’re in it together. 

“As long as we’ve got each other, it doesn’t matter what else is going on.”

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