Home favourite Robert MacIntyre continued his dream fortnight as he became the first Scottish winner of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship since 2005, a week after helping Europe to Ryder Cup victory.
Fresh from playing a huge part in Luke Donald’s side’s famous away win over the US at Bethpage Black, MacIntyre returned to home soil to take on Carnoustie Golf Links, Kingsbarns Golf Links and The Old Course, St Andrews, in this unique event.
With the tournament being reduced to 54 holes after weather interruptions on Friday and Saturday, early starter MacIntyre played his third and final round on The Old Course on Sunday and flew out of the blocks, notching six birdies over the first 13 holes to move five strokes clear at the top of the leaderboard.
The world No 9 then mixed a birdie at the 16th with a bogey on the 17th before having to settle for a tap-in par on the last to sign for a closing 66 and set the clubhouse target at 18 under par.
Fourth DP World Tour title
The Scot faced an anxious wait as several players in the chasing pack made their way down the stretch, but no-one was able to catch MacIntyre, and, about 90 minutes after holing his final putt, he was able to celebrate a four-shot victory and his fourth DP World Tour title in all.
Scottish players enjoyed great success in the event’s early years after its inclusion on the DP World Tour in 2001, with Paul Lawrie, Stephen Gallacher and Colin Montgomerie lifting the trophy in three of its first five editions.
But the last of those home victories came 20 years ago, before MacIntyre claimed his second title in Scotland on the DP World Tour after 2024’s Genesis Scottish Open win, which had also seen him replace Montgomerie as the most recent Scottish winner.
MacIntyre’s Ryder Cup teammate Tyrrell Hatton finished alone in second on 14 under after his Sunday 65 on The Old Course, with SA’s Richard Sterne and Englishman John Parry another shot back.
MacIntyre said, “Unbelievable. Any time you can win a golf tournament on these shores is special. But I’m just delighted with the way I’ve done it.
“I don’t know how we’re going to celebrate after the celebration we had last Sunday! We’ll try our best. I don’t know if it’ll be tonight, but it’ll be over the next couple of weeks.”
Harrison Crowe and Cian Foley won the team event on 33 under par after scores of 62, 58 and 63 across the three rounds. — European Tour
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