'Harsh words': Playing partners in ugly altercation at British Open

Kyle Stanley and Robert MacIntyre have engaged in an ugly war of words at the British Open after the former’s ball struck a spectator.

Stanley said he had not apologised for a "non-issue" after his playing partner MacIntyre complained he had not shouted "fore" before his ball hit the mother of the Scot's caddie on Friday.

The incident on the 17th hole in the second round saw Stanley send his tee shot into the gallery, with it hitting the spectator on the hand.

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MacIntyre said he had “harsh words” with Stanley and that his rival "didn't take it well at all" when confronted over not letting the crowd know the ball was heading in their direction.

"My two playing partners, my caddie, a couple of the volunteers or the marshals, even had them signalling it was going right," Stanley said after his third-round 73 on Saturday.

"I mean, everyone to the right of that ball, they knew it was coming.

"So to me it's kind of a non-issue. I'm not really sure why he decided to make such an issue about it.

“I know it hit his caddie's mum's hands off the bounce, and that's unfortunate."

World No.57 Stanley appeared bemused by the situation, saying he had never been involved in something like it before and would not speak to MacIntyre about it on Saturday.

He hit out at MacIntyre's inexperience, with the 22-year-old playing in his maiden major at Royal Portrush.

"He's a young player. I've been out here a while," said Stanley, 31.

"So I don't feel the need to be schooled on the rules of golf or what to do when you hit a shot off line."

‘Fore’ issue back in focus

The criticism of Stanley brought the lack of players calling "fore" into focus again, after controversies with several players on the PGA Tour.

A tee shot from Brooks Koepka also struck a French woman at the Ryder Cup in Paris last year, blinding her in one eye.

"The quality of marshalling and the quality of set-up sometimes makes us a little lazy as players because the guys on the tee are giving great signals," said Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell.

"What happened with Koepka last year at Paris, I'm always surprised that more people don't get badly injured in golf tournaments because you've got projectiles moving very fast in the large crowds.

"And thank God that very little ever happens.

"I do feel like it's a professional responsibility to try and warn a crowd if your ball is heading that direction."