Overview
- Robert MacIntyre publicly complained about a broadcast drone during his opening round at Carnoustie, and a DP World Tour rules official spoke to him on the course after he directed his frustration at a camera operator.
- MacIntyre said he stepped off shots on the eighth hole and a putt on the 18th because of the drone and that the distraction led to at least one bad shot during a round he finished one under par.
- He described how wind makes a hovering drone’s rotor speed change and compared the sound to a revving car close to where a player is trying to hit, which he says breaks his pre-shot routine.
- This was not an isolated complaint: MacIntyre has raised similar concerns before, including during the 2024 RBC Canadian Open, underscoring a recurring tension between players and aerial broadcast crews.
- Commentators have urged the DP World Tour to set a minimum separation distance, widen buffers in windy conditions, and log drone incidents to build evidence for any formal rule change but no new tour rule has been announced yet.