Friday, November 15, 2024

“Blow it up” – MacIntyre rages over Old Course Road Hole – Irish Golfer Magazine

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Robert MacIntyre sounded off on one of golf’s most historic and iconic holes after the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

The Scottish golfer lambasted the par-4 17th ‘Road Hole’ at St Andrews after double bogeying it on Saturday and bogeying it on Sunday as he finished in a share of 25th place as Tyrrell Hatton pipped Nicolas Colsaerts by a shot to win his third Dunhill title.

“Blow it up,” MacIntyre told the Scotsman on Sunday after the final round of the Dunhill Links Championship.

“I don’t think there are many worse holes in world golf. I think it’s a terrible hole off the back tee. It doesn’t need to be modernized. To bring excitement it needs to be a hole you are able to hit a golf shot into and not one where you just hit it onto the green and try to get up and down.

“It almost plays like a par 5. They try to do things to this golf course that don’t need to be done. Today I rifled a drive off the tee and then a 4-iron and I was the furthest up the hole.”

Hatton endured a wobble during the closing stages which saw Nicolas Colsaerts move alongside him at the summit with three holes remaining, but he birdied the last to seal the one-shot triumph at 24 under.

“It feels good. It’s actually the first tournament I have won with my dad here, it means a lot and to do it at the home of golf is really special,” Hatton said. “I’m trying not to cry to be honest, I’m a bit lost for words.

“I didn’t actually know what the scores were from when we left at the halfway house. The first leaderboard I saw was on the 17th green.

“When I double bogeyed 13 and bogeyed 14, I didn’t realise I was still in and around the lead and just tried my best on every shot coming in, and then I see where I’m at at the 17th green, then I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous.

“To have a three and a half foot putt is quite nerve-wracking and I was so relieved when it went in.

“I’m so happy I’ve got my place booked in Dubai. When I teed it up last week at the Spanish Open I knew I needed a second on my own to have a chance.”

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