Popular pro Robert MacIntyre is hoping to get back into the winner’s circle in 2026 after failing to capture a PGA Tour victory last year. He came close on Sunday, with a furious charge at the Sony Open title.
But according to MacIntyre, it was a costly putter snap and bad “attitude” that were responsible for him leaving Hawaii without a trophy in his luggage.
Robert MacIntyre’s Sunday charge comes up short at Sony Open
MacIntyre had his career breakthrough in 2024, when he captured his first two PGA Tour wins at the RBC Canadian Open and the Genesis Scottish Open, the latter of which was a particularly emotional one for the Scottish pro.
Though he didn’t get a third Tour win in 2025, he did earn two runner-ups, including at the 2025 U.S. Open. He also secured his fourth-career DP World Tour win and played on his second victorious European Ryder Cup team.
As a result, he started the 2026 season at No. 7 in the Official World Golf Ranking. And thanks to a sparkling final round on Sunday, MacIntyre nearly ended his PGA Tour winless drought in his first start of the year.
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Beginning Sunday’s final round of the Sony Open seven shots back, MacIntyre reeled off birdie after birdie as he steadily climbed the leaderboard. With a birdie at the last, he completed a seven-under 63, the lowest round of the day.
Unfortunately it wasn’t enough. Chris Gotterup nearly matched MacIntyre’s score to run away with the victory at 16 under, demoting MacIntyre to a T4-finish.
But in his post-round interview, MacIntyre revealed the true villain that cost him a chance at victory: his putter snap on Friday.
Robert MacIntyre explains how putter snap cost him big at Sony Open
“It was a great round of golf, to be honest. After about 12 holes, I felt I should have been nine under par,” MacIntyre said of his final round.
He continued: “Rolling the putter, actually…”
Then he stopped, interrupting his own thought as a smile broke across his face. Next came an admission.
MacIntyre revealed that in a moment of anger during Friday’s second round, he had snapped his putter. The immediate result was a costly bogey on the very next hole.
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“Don’t know if it’s a good thing to say, but I snapped my putter on 17 on Friday afternoon, missed a 3-footer on 18 on Friday afternoon. So doing that cost me a shot,” MacIntyre explained.
He continued by arguing that it was his bad “attitude” that led to the putter snap, and it didn’t just cost him a shot, it ultimately “cost me this golf tournament.”
“It’s a big, big reminder for me that attitude has got to be right for 72 holes, not just 36. Because at the end of the day my attitude cost me this golf tournament,” MacIntyre said, “and can’t be allowing that.”
