Protesters Disrupt Desmond at Dunhill Links

Protest Disrupts Dunhill Links Round

During the third round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on Saturday, 3 October 2026, Irish billionaire Dermot Desmond encountered a protest on the 15th hole of the Old Course at St Andrews. Individuals threw tennis balls towards Mr Desmond, who was playing alongside five-time major winner Brooks Koepka.

Reports indicated that the tennis balls had pieces of paper attached, bearing Mr Desmond's image. Footage of the incident was shared on social media, showing the disruption as Mr Desmond and his playing group navigated the historic Scottish course. Following the completion of his round on the 18th hole, Mr Desmond, aged 76, was escorted from the course by security personnel.

Tournament Play Continues Amidst Incident

The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, a pro-am event contested across the Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie, and Kingsbarns, proceeded despite the disruption. Mr Desmond was competing in the Pro-Am segment with professional Davis Bryant.

The pair completed their rounds with a score of 15-under par, placing them tied for 112th position, which was 10 shots outside the cut mark for the final Sunday round. Separately, Mr Bryant successfully made the professional cut at 7-under par, though he trailed the 54-hole leader by 11 strokes.

Brooks Koepka, who was playing with Mr Desmond, finished the championship at 10-under par, eight shots behind the leader, Casey Jarvis. Mr Desmond's son, Ross, was also a participant in the tournament.

Protest Linked to Football Club Governance

The protest activity was reportedly connected to ongoing criticism from segments of the Celtic Football Club's supporters regarding the management of the Scottish Premiership team. The Celtic Fans Collective, a group advocating for increased transparency and accountability from the club's leadership, released a statement following the incident.

The group claimed that Mr Desmond, who has served as a non-executive director of Celtic since May 1995 and remains the club's largest individual shareholder with approximately 34.6 to 34.9% of shares, had used his financial standing to avoid accountability to fans. The collective stated that the action at St Andrews aimed to convey a message that this situation could not continue.

Implications for Tournament Security

The incident at St Andrews, a course renowned for its public access, prompts a review of security considerations for tournament organisers globally, including those in Asia.

While the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship continued without further major disruption, the targeting of a specific individual during play may lead to enhanced security protocols for pro-am events and tournaments held on publicly accessible courses.

Tournament directors in the region might consider augmented measures to manage potential disruptions, particularly at open-access courses, and could review how high-profile participants are protected during play. This event encourages organisers to assess the balance between spectator access and participant security at major golf events.