Watch: Bob MacIntyre sinks 40ft putt to send Ryder Cup message to US hecklers

Telegraph

a day ago

First Bob MacIntyre faced down the US hecklers who were no doubt warming up their dimwitted jousts for next month's Ryder Cup. And then the Scot holed a 40-footer on the last to signal to Scottie Scheffler that he will not simply be swept aside for a £2.7m first prize.
Exclamation on 18!
A 41-foot birdie on the last gives @robert1lefty a four-shot lead heading into Sunday. pic.twitter.com/v38U5frTcb
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 16, 2025
Luke Donald would have loved watching this third round of the BMW Championship, the penultimate event in the PGA Tour's season-closing FedEx Cup.
There was MacIntyre, the 29-year-old from Oban, refusing to be intimidated by Scheffler, despite the world No 1 digging into his five-shot overnight lead. MacIntyre's grandstand moment in Baltimore handed him a four-shot advantage over Scheffler and ensured he has all the motivation for what could be the biggest Sunday of his sporting life thus far.
The 14th will but crystallise his desire.
MacIntyre was faced with an eight-footer and, as well as all the usual 'USA, USA' garbage, there was personal slander hurled from the hospitality section overlooking the green of the par-four. When the putt dropped, MacIntyre swivelled on his spine and gestured back to the miscreant, keeping his putter-head pointed at him as he walked off the green.
Asked about his clash with the galleries, MacIntyre laughed as he talked about Ryder Cup rivalries.
'We're in America, playing against their sweetheart Scottie, who I get on well with, he's a great guy,' he said. 'I expected it today and I expect it again tomorrow. You give me c--p, I'll give you c--p back. I'm not scared of that.'
MacIntyre is not to be messed with. He still plays for his local shinty team, and if the Americans want to look that up on Google they will see the ferocity. This might make all this yet more significant to 'Big Time Bob'.
Granted, MacIntyre is such a passionate Scot that he would doubtlessly say that his national open is still the high point, even if he prevails at Caves Valley. But with the enormous riches on offer, and more pertinently the scalp of Scheffler, the rest of the world would be forgiven for ranking this top of the pile.
The left-hander from Oban bogeyed the first but then reeled off three birdies and 14 pars, including a quite miraculous save on the drivable par-four fifth, when his tee shot ended in thick bush adjacent to the green.
It was impressive that the ball was even found, and when MacIntyre somehow hacked out onto the green, before two-putting for par, the stunned expression on Scheffler's face said it all.
. @robert1lefty made par from where 😱
📺 Golf Channel pic.twitter.com/fX9iKcNUgQ
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 16, 2025
It looks a two-golfer race as Ludvig Aberg is two shots further back on 10 under after a 68.
Donald will also be thrilled at the Swede's display so far after question marks were raised about his form with a month to go until next month's match in New York. Sam Burns is in a tie for fourth with Harry Hall – the Cornishman who himself is launching a late bid for a Bethpage berth – and Scheffler's close ally could force himself into the wild-card picture for Team USA. So much to play for.
Indeed, Sunday has the potential to be a decisive day for Europe, too. Rasmus Hojgaard holds the lead in the Danish Championship on the DP World Tour and if the home hero can convert his advantage into silverware in Copenhagen, then he could all but confirm his place in Donald's dozen.
Hojgaard, the 24-year-old whose twin Nicolai played in the last Ryder Cup, is 13 under and one clear of England's Marco Penge. Should he prevail, it is highly likely that the surnames of the Europe team will be the same as in 2023 – with just the Hojgaard Christian name being different.