The Scottish pro tees off on the most famous hole in St. Andrews: ‘Blow it up’

Robert MacIntyre may be honoring Scotland’s favorite golfer’s son right now, but that status may be taking over this week.

The 28-year-old from Oban has had a breakout season on the PGA Tour, winning the RBC Canadian Open and later becoming the first Scot to win his country’s open since 1999.

MacIntyre was back in his homeland this week for the Alfred Dunhill Links tournament on the DP World Tour, which is played at one of Scotland’s most famous courses, the Old Course in St. Andrews.

But, after his final round of 70 on Sunday, MacIntyre had had enough of the Old Course’s most famous hole.

“It blew up,” MacIntyre said The Scotsman of St. Andrews’ famous “Road Hole” par-4 17th. “I don’t think there are many bad holes in golf in the world.

“I think it’s a really bad hole in the back. It doesn’t need to be modernized, to bring excitement it needs to be a hole where you can hit golf and not where you just hit it into the green and try to go up and down.”

The “Road Hole,” which was extended to 495 yards before the 2010 Open Championship and requires a blind shot from parts of the Old Course Hotel, played as the hardest hole this week at Dunhill. In all four rounds (which saw the entire field play it at least once), it averaged 4.57 strokes and gave up just seven birdies, none of which came in the final round.

In contrast, he hardest hole this week, the 18th hole at Carnoustie which holds the first round, he played almost three tenths of a shot easier in 4.31.

MacIntyre, who missed the green two times this week, made it two-over Saturday after playing his third shot into the road hole bunker. He made bogey on Sunday after hitting his second almost on the 18th tee and missing a 15-footer.

“It almost plays like a par 5,” MacIntyre continued The Scotsman. “They are trying to do things on this golf course that don’t need to be done. Today I drove off the tee and hit a 4 iron and was too long from the hole. “

His 70 in Round 4 moved him to 14 under for the week which was good for a combined 25. Tyrrell Hatton won the event for the third time in his career after compiling a record 61 on Saturday. It was Hatton’s first DP World Tour win since signing with LIV Golf earlier this season.

Jack Hirsh

Golf.com Editor

Jack Hirsh is an assistant editor at GOLF. A native of Pennsylvania, Jack is a 2020 graduate of Penn State University, earning degrees in broadcast journalism and political science. He was the captain of his high school golf team and recently returned to the program to serve as the head coach. Jack is also *still* trying to stay competitive with the local novices. Before joining GOLF, Jack spent two years working at a TV station in Bend, Oregon, primarily as a reporter/multimedia reporter, but also producing, anchoring and presenting even the weather. He can be reached at jack.hirsh@golf.com.