Alfred Dunhill Links Championship – first round
-7 M Stewart (Sco), J Buchanan (Aus); -6 MJ Daffue (SA), C Jarvis (SA)
Others selected: -4 M Fitzpatrick (Eng), S Straka (Aut), C Hill (Sco), S Bairstow (Eng); -3 B Koepka (WE); -2 T Fleetwood (English); -1 A Fitzpatrick (England), R MacIntyre (Scotland), L Westwood (England), I Poulter (England); +2 T Hatton (English)
Complete ranking
On the day Matt Fitzpatrick began his quest for a fifth victory of the year, Robert MacIntyre reacted furiously to a drone and Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter returned to the DP World Tour after an absence of almost four years, it was a player outside the world’s top 900 who stole the show at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Scot Michael Stewart, ranked 979th, shot 65 to sit at seven under after dominating a field of big names to share the lead at the end of the first round.
This gave the Scots a share of the lead after the first round, with Australian Jack Buchanan.
Stewart, 36, has played just five events on Europe’s main circuit – the last in 2023 – and took to the start less than 24 hours after finishing second in the Tartan Tour’s Duddingston Classic after receiving an invite from a sponsor this week.
However, after making a solitary birdie on the front nine, an eagle on the par-five 12th proved to be the catalyst for him to play the next five holes in six under after the turn.
“It’s easy to prepare for this event. I played Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (at Duddingston), right here. I’ve played here a lot in the past and I’m just excited to be part of the event.
“I grew up on a links course. I played well all day to be honest. Lots of fairways, lots of greens and then in the back the putter got hot.”
Stewart’s remarkable back nine at Carnoustie and Buchanan’s equally impressive score at Kingsbarns contrasted with several eye-catching moments from the team event featuring former sports stars and celebrities, paired with the professionals.
However, former Real Madrid and Wales winger Gareth Bale at least provided some instantly shareable content on social media when his ball found the roof of the Jigger Inn, teeing off on the 17th at St Andrews – one of three courses used to stage the tournament.
South Africans MJ Daffue and Casey Jarvis are one shot off the top of the professional rankings, while Fitzpatrick, who won the French Open last week, signed for a four-under 68 to find himself three shots behind.
Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka was three under after a 69 at Carnoustie, a shot better off than Tommy Fleetwood, while defending champion MacIntyre was one under at the same course.
MacIntyre was also arrested by officials after becoming angry at a drone flying overhead on the par-three eighth, his penultimate hole of the day.
“It drives me crazy. I’ve had it before,” he said.
“I asked (the rules official) twice before the eighth shot about the drone. I can’t say anything right now.
“He obviously heard me swear at the cameraman several times directly. We’ll see what the TD (tournament director) has to say.”
Westwood is at one under, with Poulter at par level in their first DP World Tour appearances since January 2023, after making controversial changes to LIV Golf in 2022.
Gn sports
