Stanley hits back at ‘over-reaction’ from Macintyre
Kyle Stanley yesterday accused Robert Macintyre of over- reacting following the pair’s Open spat during Friday’s second round at Royal Portrush.
Macintyre lambasted the American for failing to shout ‘fore’ when his wayward tee shot on the 17th hit the mother of the Oban player’s caddie Greg Milne on the hand.
Fortunately, she was not badly injured, but Open debutant Macintyre still gave 31-yearold Stanley an earful, claiming afterwards that his playing partner had not taken kindly to his verbal onslaught.
But Stanley questioned 22- year- old Macintyre’s version of events after carding a third-round 73, claiming that the Scot had left out certain details of their exchange.
He said: “I saw what he said and the way things were painted from his perspective. I wouldn’t really say that was an accurate description of what happened.
“I wouldn’t say it was heated. We talked about it briefly and I was surprised. I was caught off guard that it even came up, really. I just explained to him my side of it.
“If it didn’t hit the caddie’s mum’s hand, I don’t think we’d be talking about it right now.
“I hit the ball right in a hard wind off the left and several people on the tee box yelled ‘fore’. My two playing partners, my caddie and a couple of the marshals were even signalling that it was going right.
“Everyone to the right of that ball knew it was coming so to me it’s kind of a non-issue. I’m surprised it’s come to this point.
“I’m not really sure why he decided to make such an issue of it. I know it hit his caddie’s mom’s hands off the bounce, and that’s unfortunate.”
Stanley insisted that he usually shouts ‘fore’ when he hits the ball off line after revealing that he has not felt a need to apologise to Stephanie Milne.
But he added: “This was a unique situation. You have marshals on the tee signalling where the ball is going and you have guys down there in the landing area.
“It’s a bad deal. But everyone knew the ball was going over there.”
■ José María Olazábal will take a threeshot lead into today’s final round of the WINSTONGOLF Senior Open after recording a second consecutive round of 66, six-underpar, which included a hole-in-one.
The 2012 Ryder Cup Captain is chasing his first Staysure Tour win. England’s Gary Wolstenholme is the Spaniard’s nearest challenger on 135, with Bernhard Langer, Philip Price and Jamie Spence a shot further back.
■ Calum Hill takes a three-shot lead into today’s final round of the Euram Bank Open at Golf Club Adamstal on the Challenge Tour.
The 24-year-old tops the leaderboard on 14-under after a three-under-par 67, three clear of England’s Matt Ford in second.