Robert MacIntyre, the celebrated Ryder Cup victor, playfully taunted his American competitors at the Valspar Championship in Florida by emblazoning his caddie’s bib with the triumphant scoreline from Europe’s recent win in Rome. The Scottish golf star, who contributed a commendable two-and-a-half points to Europe’s victory at Marco Simone Country Club, leveraged the tournament’s unique policy allowing players to personalize their caddie’s apparel.
Choosing to highlight the EUR 16.5 – 11.5 USA score, MacIntyre aimed to remind everyone of the American team’s significant loss as Luke Donald led Europe to reclaim the trophy. The bib, worn by English caddie Mike Burrows, featured this reference despite Burrows not being MacIntyre’s caddie during the Ryder Cup—a partnership that began only a month after the event.
The move elicited varied reactions, with Ryder Cup Europe celebrating the gesture on X, saying, “He’s only gone and done it. We approve.” Meanwhile, the American team hinted at future rivalry by mentioning the 2025 Bethpage event, and the official PGA Tour response seemed to question the timing with a “Too soon?”
Despite this bold statement, MacIntyre, a 27-year-old left-hander, struggled to replicate his Ryder Cup form in Italy during his opening round in Florida. He managed only two birdies against a bogey, finishing one under par and six strokes behind the leader, Kevin Streelman. MacIntyre’s American competitors, Kevin Roy and Chandler Phillips, outperformed him, with scores of six under and three under, respectively.
Currently participating in his ninth PGA Tour season, MacIntyre has faced challenges, missing the cut in half of his outings so far, including the recent Players Championship. This blend of competitive spirit and playful rivalry at the Valspar Championship underscores the dynamic and unpredictable nature of golf, where the echoes of past triumphs meet the present challenge of consistent performance.
