Robert MacIntyre spoken to by official after Carnoustie drone dispute

Robert MacIntyre was spoken to by a DP World Tour official after directing his frustration at a camera operator during the opening round of the Dunhill Links Championship. BBC Sport reported that the defending champion objected to the noise of a broadcast drone at Carnoustie on Thursday, saying its proximity was disrupting his concentration as he approached the end of his round.

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The 30-year-old Scot, ranked 19th in the world, finished one under par after dropping a shot at the par-four ninth, his final hole of the day. He said he had twice raised the drone issue with a rules official before a shot on the eighth. He then backed away from that shot and, with the drone still occupying his thoughts, played it poorly.

MacIntyre distinguished between a drone holding a steady position and one adjusting to the wind. The changing sound as it tried to remain in place was the particular problem, he explained. While acknowledging the importance of television coverage and its financial contribution, he questioned why the equipment needed to operate so close to players. He also said a drone prompted him to back away from a putt.

The Scottish golfer acknowledged that he had sworn towards the camera operator and said he would await the tournament director's response. BBC Sport's account did not establish any resulting penalty. His complaints about the broadcast equipment were accompanied by dissatisfaction with his own performance: he felt there were strong elements to his game, but his ball-striking and putting were not consistently working together.

MacIntyre's next round is at Kingsbarns on Friday, with St Andrews completing his three-course rotation on Saturday. His opening score left him seeking improvements after a round he regarded as below the standard he wanted, despite finishing under par. He described the need to address the inconsistency between days when he strikes the ball well and those when his putting is stronger.

He nevertheless praised Carnoustie's challenge in the conditions. Earlier in the week, MacIntyre had advocated regular Open Championship visits to both Carnoustie and Muirfield. He said Thursday's wind created one of the sternest tests he had experienced at Carnoustie in years, while maintaining that a good score remained possible.