The Open 2024: Will Robert MacIntyre Be Fined for Hangover Drama at Royal Troon? R&A’s Drinking Rules Explored

Robert MacIntyre kept his Scottish Open promise. After winning the Scottish Open last Sunday, the 27-year-old affirmed he was going to celebrate it ‘hard’. Never mind the Open Championship press conference on Monday; winning the national major calls for a party. More so, when you are the first Scotsman to do so in 25 years. 

When the time came, R&A announced the postponement of his press conference, scheduled after Brian Harman and Ludvig Aberg, to Wednesday. Eventually, he appeared before the media, still not quite out of the Scottish Open mood. 

Was it a brazen violation of Open Championship rules? The R&A doesn’t bar alcohol consumption inside the venue. Spectators are only barred from bringing alcohol with them; they can buy it inside the venue. But for players, of course, it’s different; they are not allowed to drink while playing.

And there is the catch. MacIntyre didn’t arrive at Royal Troon drunk. He was still recovering from a hangover. In an X (formerly Twitter) post on Wednesday, the two-time PGA Tour winner joked, “Walking off the hangover.” 

Even, the DP World Tour later posted a clip of Bryson DeChambeau congratulating MacIntyre for his Scottish Open victory. After the formalities, the reigning U.S. Open champion asked, “Are you feeling okay?” MacIntyre quipped, “Getting better.” So, it is unlikely that R&A fined Bob for landing on South Ayrshire hungover. 

It wasn’t the first time for the Oban resident Last year, after winning the Ryder Cup, MacIntyre was singing  ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)’ while twirling his hat with a bottle of Tennents Lager in his hand. 

At Royal Troon, the young Scot looked quite at ease. A tumultuous front nine on Friday couldn’t stop the 27-year-old from booking the weekend spot. After the round, MacIntyre was quite content with what he had achieved. 

Robert MacIntyre had a roller-coaster Friday 

MacIntyre started Friday at 1-over, safely inside the projected cutline of 6-over. However, things unraveled quite quickly. A triple bogey on the first hole, followed by two bogeys and another triple, shoved him to 8-over by the 4th. Suddenly, the Scotsman was in dire need of birdies. 

Not one to back down, the 27-year-old channeled his Scottish Open self to mount a spectacular late comeback. Eventually, Robert MacIntyre finished at 4-over after 36 holes, two strokes better than the cutline. A year ago, though, he would have accepted defeat. 

Asked if he could’ve done that at Royal Liverpool, the Oban resident said, “No, I’d have been gone. I’d have been in my car already and up the road. The attitude has been massive for me the last probably, I don’t know, 15 weeks, 12, 15 weeks. It’s been superb.” MacIntyre believes anything is possible in links golf. Another ‘Bob’ party might be in the offing.