Robert MacIntyre might have failed to deliver on the course at the Masters – but he has provided another moment that could land him in more trouble with officials.
The 29-year-old Scot failed to make the halfway cut after rounds of 80 and 71 left him seven over par and he exited the tournament in Augusta.
Shortly afterwards MacIntyre, who declined to speak to the media, posted a picture on his Instagram account of a gnome resembling himself with an extended middle finger.
It was a rather neat two-pronged reference to MacIntyre’s behaviour during the tournament and an ongoing debate over a decade-long Masters tradition.
The world number eight had been caught by television cameras directing a middle-finger gesture towards the 15th green during Thursday’s opening round.
It came after he hit his approach into the pond guarding the putting surface, on his way to making a quadruple-bogey nine at the par-five hole.
The Press Association reported the Ryder Cup winner was reprimanded by Augusta National officials for the action.
Masters organisers are known for their strict rules and code of conduct for players and fans – known as patrons – attending the tournament.
On Thursday, MacIntyre had also sworn after a slightly wayward tee shot on the 12th hole and again after hitting a putt off the green on the 13th.
The gnome element of his Instagram post related to a debate over the future of a Masters gnome,, external introduced to the tournament shop 10 years ago.
They are released in small batches and have become one of the most sought after collectables in sports merchandise.
It had been rumoured the novelty item – which appears on resale sites for 10 times its £37 ($50) value – was facing an uncertain future.
When asked what lay in store for the Masters gnome Augusta chairman Fred Ridley was coy in his response.
“Number one: The question is not trivial,” Ridley said on Wednesday.
“Number two: I’ve been asking that question for several years and they won’t tell me the answer, so I can’t help you.”
