Rory McIlroy got a frosty reaction from Bob MacIntyre for interrupting his pal at the Alfred Dunhill Championship.
The pair were playing at Kingsbarns on day two of the pro-am tournament when a stonking McIlroy drive found the green off the tee at the 390-yard par-four 14th. However, the drive was little too powerful for the liking of MacIntyre, who was standing over a birdie putt having bogeyed the 12th and 13th.
As he spotted the rogue ball hurtling towards the green, a frustrated-looking MacIntyre gazed back towards the tee box, where McIlroy was looking a little sheepish. Meanwhile, a commentator observed: “I don’t think Bob is too impressed with that.”
READ MORE: Rory McIlroy predicts golf peace deal as LIV and PGA golf chiefs unite at St Andrews
The incident had a happy ending though as MacIntyre holed the putt. Unfortunately, a double-bogey six on 18th saw him finish with a level-par round of 72, a shot behind McIlroy on five under, with both well off the lead at the halfway stage.
That was jointly held by a pair of players with a combined world ranking of 1,702. Ex-Ryder Cup star Nicolas Colsaerts carded a 65 at Carnoustie to reach 14 under par, a total matched by Cameron John thanks to 68 at St Andrews following an opening 62 at Kingsbarns.
Colsaerts, 41, reached a career-high of 32nd in the rankings after winning the second of his three DP World Tour titles in 2012, the same year in which he helped Europe pull off the ‘Miracle at Medinah’. However, the Belgian came into the week ranked 695th, with his focus shifting to the commentary box and away from the course.
“The stage I’m at, the way I see this profession and my career, I’m just happy to be here,” said Colsaerts.
Meanwhile, John enjoyed his breakthrough professional win in his native Australia earlier this year, but started just his seventh DP World Tour event at 1,007th in the world rankings. The 23-year-old said: “It’s just fun. You don’t get it a lot back home, maybe the odd course that plays similar but nothing quite the same.
“And that’s kind of just the outlook of the week, just enjoy it, take it all in. Walking up 18 [at St Andrews] it’s always pretty special, so just remember it.”