Robert MacIntyre Blames TV Drone for Bad Shot at Dunhill Links

Robert MacIntyre says a TV drone cost him a shot during the opening round of the 2026 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, after the Scot was forced to step off twice at Carnoustie on Thursday because of the device buzzing nearby.

What happened on the 8th hole?

MacIntyre, playing the DP World Tour event across the Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, told BBC Sport he had already flagged the drone to its operator twice before his approach on the 8th. He stepped away from the ball, gave the operator a nod that it was still too close, then played anyway without feeling fully committed. The result, he said, was a mishit. He stepped off again later in the round, backing away from a putt on the 18th green for the same reason.

Why does MacIntyre object to drones at tournaments?

MacIntyre acknowledged that broadcasters need close footage, but argued the operators do not need to fly as near to players as they did on Thursday. He said the bigger issue is how drones behave in wind, when they buffet and adjust position with an audible whine right as a player is about to swing. "It drives me insane," MacIntyre said of the distraction.

Has MacIntyre had drone trouble before?

This was not an isolated complaint. At the 2024 RBC Canadian Open, MacIntyre repeatedly objected to a CBS drone during the final round; the network grounded it, and he went on to win his first PGA Tour title. He also waited on the first tee at a recent Open Championship at Royal Birkdale over drone noise. Other players have raised similar concerns — Jon Rahm criticized a drone operator at a LIV Golf event in Nashville after it put him off during a shot that found the water.

A technology built to bring television audiences closer to the action is now close enough to change the outcome of the shots they are watching.

What's next for MacIntyre at the Dunhill Links?

MacIntyre, the World No. 19 and defending champion at the event, did not let the frustration carry over. Moving to Kingsbarns for Round 2, he opened with four early birdies to climb back into contention. A DP World Tour rules official spoke with him after Thursday's round, telling MacIntyre that officials had heard him swear at the camera operator on course; MacIntyre said he was waiting to hear from the tournament director.