PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland – Kyle Stanley has refused to show remorse for failing to shout ‘Fore’ during the second round of the British Open.
The two-time PGA Tour winner got into an argument with playing companion Robert MacIntyre on Friday. Stanley hit a ball off Royal Portrush’s 17th tee and it struck the mother of MacIntyre’s caddie.
MacIntyre took the Clemson grad to task for not yelling. “I said I wasn’t happy,” MacIntyre said. “He didn’t really like my response. He’s the only one I’ve seen do that. It was straight into the crowd. It was into the crowd from the word go. And we’re expecting him to shout ‘Fore.'”
When quizzed Saturday on his discussion with the 22-year-old Scot, Stanley said, “To me it’s kind of a non-issue. I’m not really sure why he decided to make an issue out of it.
“I know it hit his caddie’s mum’s hand off the bounce and that’s unfortunate. As far as I’m concerned, a number of people yelled ‘Fore’. He made the argument that since I hit the ball, it maybe should’ve come out of my mouth first.
“It certainly wasn’t my intention to put anyone in harm’s way. I had my wife in the gallery, and my coaches.”
PGA Tour policy stipulates players must shout ‘Fore!’ when a ball is hit offline. Stanley said he didn’t have to yell because others had done so.
“Five or six people yelled ‘Fore.’ My caddie did, my two playing partners, a couple of the marshals. So I thought that was enough.”
Stanley accused the lefthander of not telling the entire story.
“I saw what he said last night. He left out quite a few details so I wouldn’t say it was an accurate description of what happened.”
Stanley is also unhappy with MacIntyre calling his professionalism into question.
“When you talk about someone playing within the boundaries of etiquette in golf that’s kind of a touchy situation. To paint somebody in a bad light, not playing within the etiquette of the game, you got to be careful when you do that.
“He’s a young player. I’ve been out here a while. I certainly don’t feel the need to be schooled on the rules of golf or what to do when I hit a shot offline.”
