Scotland’s golfing hero Robert MacIntyre has been crowned king of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship – the first Scot to clinch the title since Colin Montgomery some 20 years ago.

MacIntyre, shot a 66 in his final round to win his fourth DP World Tour event just seven days after starring for Europe in the magnificent Ryder Cup victory against the United States at Bethpage Black. His Ryder Cup team mate, Tyrell Hatton – who won the title in 2024 – shot a 65 final round and finished in second place.

Bob said: “It’s brilliant, a special win, and as a Scotsman there is no other place I’d want to win more than St Andrews. I’ve won a Scottish Open last year, and now a Dunhill Links here – and also a Ryder Cup in between. The only thing that would top this is if I could win an Open Championship at St Andrews, so we’ll try our best to celebrate it tonight. Not sure how we’re going to do that after the celebration we had in New York last Sunday, but it’s going to be nice, especially with family having travelled over to watch me play today.”

Great galleries

The storm-affected Saturday knocked out a day’s play – and the event organisers threw open the gates to all, ensuring huge home galleries who cheered for ‘Bobby’ on his way around the Old Course … with more cheers for Any Murray who was just behind Bob’s group.

Marching on: the leading pair of Bob MacIntyre & Tyrell Hatton walking towards the 13th tee. The crowds heading down the Road Hole, passing the Jigger Inn – and Sky’s on-course ‘Radar’ Wayne Riley stands on the 18th waiting for what would be the drives of the top two players.  

 

The power of Scotland …

MacIntyre’s six-under-par 66 was his third 66 of the event trimmed. He is now only the second Scot after ‘Monty’ to win both the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and the Scottish Open.

“To have my name on trophies that carry some of the great names in golf is really something special and as a kid I used to watch events like the Dunhill and dream of being able to play in them. And I’ve loved to come to St Andrews. I’ve been coming here with the family for years, sometimes just to walk on the beach and to be in the town rather than to play golf. But the whole place is golf heaven and I will always play here whenever there is a tournament on.”

Preparation

MacIntyre joked about becoming Dunhill Links champion after arriving back in Scotland “running on empty” and with few expectations following the hype and pressure of an away Ryder Cup.

“To be honest I don’t know how I’ve done it this week. I’ve done everything against the book. I came here just wanting to enjoy it and try to play well but I only pitched up on Wednesday, played just 11 holes or so on the Old Course and have done everything this week that I would not have done in a normal week. And it’s not just been no real preparation, although obviously I know the three courses well. My diet has not been good either this week – I’ve eaten plenty of fish and chips and other takeaways. Nor have I done any of my gym work.”

MacIntyre picked out the second of his three 66s as the key to his victory, a tour de force at Kingsbarns to defy heavy rain and strong winds that forced play to be suspended just after he had finished his round.

“All three rounds were important, of course, but Kingsbarns was the round that could easily have got away from me,” he added. “I even shocked myself with that 66. It was unbelievable. I know the level that I can play at, but I do keep shocking myself at times but to go out and do it this week and get over the line this week is very special.”

Masters focus …

As for the future, next April’s Masters at August is a massive focus now for MacIntyre. “It’s no secret that it’s Major Championships now that I want,” said the world No 9.

Three of a kind: Bob MacIntyre (left), Tyrrell Hatton (middle) who finished 14-under-par and Tommy Fleetwood (right) who finished nine-under, as did fellow Ryder Cup team mate, Matt Fitzpatrick.

 

Need more?

The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is a celebration of Links golf, played over the Old Course St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, three of the greatest Links courses in the world.

With a prize fund of US$5 million, the Alfred Dunhill Links incorporates two separate competitions – an Individual Professional tournament for the world’s leading golfers and the Team Championship in which the professionals are paired with amateur golfers which creates a unique atmosphere.

Among the celebrity amateurs playing were Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Bill Murray, Matthew Goode, Ronan Keating, Tom Chaplin, Dave Farrell, Mike Rutherford, Huey Lewis, Piers Morgan, Peter Jones, Andy Murray, Wayne Gretzky, Kelly Slater, Steve Redgrave, A.P. McCoy, Kevin Pietersen, Allan Lamb, Mark Nicholas, Michael Vaughan, Schalk Burger Jnr, Morné du Plessis and Rob Louw.

This is the 40th year that Alfred Dunhill has supported golf at St Andrews – first in the Alfred Dunhill Cup from 1985, then in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship from 2001. During that time, many millions have been raised for charity.

In June 2011 the Alfred Dunhill Links Foundation was established as the official Foundation of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. The Foundation is committed to developing young amateur golfers in Scotland and South Africa and also supports the University of St Andrews and the St Andrews Pilgrim Foundation, which refurbishes and preserves historical monuments in the town.