It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. So begins a famous book I’ve never read—but it’s also the perfect description of what happened to Robert MacIntyre on Thursday.
Playing in the opening round of the DP World Tour’s Nedbank Golf Challenge, MacIntyre had the luck of the Irish on the front nine. But then the golf gods must have realized he’s Scottish on the back nine.
The first clip comes on the par-4 sixth hole at Gary Player CC, where Bib Bob appeared to hit his drive OB until a miraculous bounce not only brought it back into play, but into the fairway. Nice!
That can really turn your round around! Except MacIntyre didn’t take advantage of his good fortune by making a bad bogey.
The two-time DP World Tour winner looked in good shape to get back to even par while playing the par-5 14th and hitting his approach shot right at the flagstick. The only problem is that it was right at the flagstick. Instead of sticking one tight, MacIntyre’s golf ball ricocheted off the green and he settled for par. Not-so nice!
Obviously we’ve seen both of these things happen to tour pros many times before, but we’re not sure we’ve seen them happen to the same tour pro in the same round. What a range of emotions. What a sport. Golf!
By the way, Bob wound up shooting a one-over-par 73 to trail first-round leader Ryan Fox by nine, and 2023 European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald(!) by eight. Hey, it could have been worse. But it also could have been better. Again, golf!
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