Apparently, it was National Body Language Day on Friday, which is an annual observance highlighting the importance of facial expressions, gestures, posture, eye contact and other silent cues that shape how people understand one another.
Presumably, it was set up in honor of Colin Montgomerie when he missed the 54-hole cut in the 2008 Dunhill Links Championship and delivered a searing glower that just about melted the assembled golf writers who were looking for a quick post-mortem.
Here in 2026, it’s Robert MacIntyre who has taken on Monty’s mantle as the Oban lefty continues to provide us with a fascinating case study in that body language lark. He often gives us plenty of language to mull over too.
On day two of the Dunhill Links, though, MacIntyre
was all smiles. Well, almost.
A seven-under 65 at Kingsbarns, for an eight-under total, saw him barge his way to within three shots of the halfway leader, Casey Jarvis of South Africa.
A bogey on the 11th had the dark clouds building to such an extent you half expected a warning to arrive from the Met Office.
The silver lining, however, came in the shape of four birdies over his next five holes as MacIntyre’s defense of the title he won 12 months ago gathered pace.
“I get wild with the bogey, but then it spurs me on,” said the former Scottish Open champion of his mood swings.
“I don't know if it's a personality thing I've got, but it's certainly up and down on the golf course. When it's good, it's good. And when it's bad, I know it's bad.
“It's just the way I play golf. I'm always on the edge, I'm always pushing to be better.”
MacIntyre was joined on the eight-under mark by his fellow Scot, Michael Stewart, who rallied from a period of toil and trouble on his outward half at Kingsbarns to salvage a battling one-under 71.
After a sparkling 65 at Carnoustie on day one, Stewart, who began his second round on the 10th, looked like he would slither out of the picture after three bogeys in the last four holes of his opening nine holes.
Like a panel beater battering out the dents on a pranged car, though, Stewart got on with his repair job.
A birdie on the second was followed by an outrageous putt of nearly 100 feet for eagle on the third before a birdie to finish got him back in the red figures.
It’s now 15 years since Stewart embarked on his professional journey after helping GB&I beat the USA – Jordan Spieth and all – in the Walker Cup.
The former Scottish Amateur champion has never made it to the main DP World Tour and has chipped away at so many coal faces, his wedges are just about covered in soot.
Perseverance is a valuable asset in this game, though. At 36, Stewart has not given up on reaching the promised land just yet.
“I’m no spring chicken and thanks for reminding me,” chuckled Stewart when asked if the advancing years were a barrier to his ambitions.
“I started working with Gregor Monks (new coach) last August and straight away I liked the way it was going as I could see good signs.
“I seem to be hitting a repeatable shot and, as a result, I’m not making any big numbers due to being able to take out a certain side of the golf course.
“I’ve still got that hunger and desire. If that motivation wasn’t there, I probably would stop. But I love it. I love hitting balls. I love trying to improve.”
Stewart, who is on course for promotion back to the second-tier of the European scene, is playing on an invitation this week.
He’s certainly making the most of it and MacIntyre is hoping his friend continues the good work over the next couple of days. It could be a career changing weekend.
“Mikey is still a great player, it's just getting an opportunity like he's got this week and hopefully taking it,” added Ryder Cup player MacIntyre.
“He's trusting himself, he's trusting the people around him, and he's still chasing it. Fair play to him.
“I know the bits of luck that I've had throughout my career that have got me to the position I'm in. You work hard, you do everything.
"He works hard too. Hopefully he can have a little bit of luck this weekend that can get him on here (the tour) full-time.”
At the head of the field, Jarvis posted a 67 at Kingsbarns for an 11-under tally and a one-shot advantage over his compatriot, MJ Daffue, Spain’s Rocco Repetto Taylor and Englishman Matthew Jordan.
Brooks Koepka, the five-time major champion, is lurking on eight-under while Tyrrell Hatton, a triple Dunhill Links champion, bounced back from an opening 74 with a 66 at Kingbarns to move to four-under.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Mostly smiling, Robert MacIntyre is chasing lead at the Dunhill Links Championship
