Robert MacIntyre of Scotland faced challenges with his driver on Sunday.
BMW Championship, Caves Valley GC, Maryland
-15 S Scheffler (US); -13 R MacIntyre (Sco), -11 M McNealy (US) -10 T Fleetwood (Eng), S Burns (US); -8 H Hall (Eng)
Selected others: -7 V Hovland (Nor); -3 R McIlroy (NI); -1 M Fitzpatrick (Eng); +1 S Lowry (Ire)
Robert MacIntyre voiced his frustration, expressing a desire to “smash up my golf clubs” after relinquishing a four-shot lead to Scottie Scheffler in the BMW Championship.
The Scottish golfer, aiming for his third PGA Tour victory, began with consecutive bogeys and incurred another stroke loss at the fifth hole.
Scheffler, the world number one, seized the lead by the seventh hole and ultimately secured a two-stroke victory in Maryland, highlighted by a remarkable chip-in on the 17th.
MacIntyre managed only one birdie in his three-over-par round of 73 and struggled to explain the excessive distance of his shots.
“I got off to an absolutely horrific start,” the Oban native stated.
“I felt great going out today. I wasn’t even expecting to be over par, to be honest. I was really expecting to go out there, foot down, and perform the way I have been the last couple of days.
“My golf ball was going miles. I don’t know why. I need to work that out. I feel I’ve hit good shots, and I’ve gone miles.”
Open champion Scheffler displayed composure and skill, overcoming a few uncharacteristic errors, to card a three-under-par 67, finishing the week at 15 under.
MacIntyre, who previously finished as runner-up at the US Open and tied for seventh at the Open, held a commanding 16-under score after rounds of 62, 64, and 68.
The Scotsman denied being affected by his playing partner’s consistency and refrained from commenting on alleged heckling from the spectators.
When asked about areas for improvement, he responded, “Right now, not a clue. Right now I want to go and smash up my golf clubs, to be honest with you.”
MacIntyre experienced a brief resurgence, closing the gap to one stroke after the 12th, as Scheffler missed a routine par putt.
However, the Scotsman’s eight-iron tee shot on the 13th sailed over the green, leading to a fourth bogey, only for Scheffler to falter on the subsequent hole.
On the 15th, the American secured a birdie after MacIntyre missed his attempt, but the roles reversed on the 16th.
Scheffler delivered a memorable moment on the 17th, chipping in from the greenside to the delight of the crowd, solidifying his 18th PGA Tour victory.
With the £1.6m prize, MacIntyre ascends 11 places to ninth in the FedEx Cup standings, securing his Ryder Cup spot alongside Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood, who tied for fourth.
MacIntyre also rises to eighth in the Official World Golf Ranking, becoming only the third Scot to reach the top 10, following Colin Montgomerie and Sandy Lyle.
England’s Harry Hall secured a place in next week’s Tour Championship with a commendable sixth-place finish at eight under, enhancing his Ryder Cup prospects.
The top six US selections for September’s contest at Bethpage State Park, New York, have been finalized, with Scheffler joined by J.J. Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Bryson DeChambeau, and Harris English.
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