Casey Jarvis kicked off his round with a spectacular eagle on the very first hole, setting the tone for a blistering 65‑stroke round on the historic Old Course at St Andrews on Saturday. The South African’s flawless performance, free of any bogeys, placed him two shots clear at the top of the leaderboard in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, positioning him for what could become his third DP World Tour triumph of the season. Jarvis’s opening hole was a masterclass in precision.
After a perfect tee shot, his wedge landed just six feet from the pin and, aided by a gentle spin, dropped cleanly into the cup for an eagle. He continued the momentum on the next hole, launching a tee shot over the infamous Strath bunker and landing within four feet of the hole on the par‑three 11th. By the time he reached the 14th, a two‑putt birdie had already taken him to five under par after only five holes.
The conditions on the Old Course were breezy but manageable, and Jarvis kept his composure, never attempting a birdie putt longer than six feet. He finished the day at 18 under par, a score that gave him a comfortable cushion heading into the final round at St Andrews.
Trailing Jarvis were several notable competitors. Poland’s Adrian Meronk, one of 22 LIV Golf players in the field, surged early with birdies on his first four holes at Kingsbarns and capped his round with an eagle, posting a 63. He sat two shots back, level with England’s Matthew Jordan, who recorded a solid 66. Belgium’s Thomas Detry, another LIV representative, was a further shot behind after a respectable 65 at St Andrews.
Jarvis’s confidence was evident when asked about the pressure he expected to face on Sunday. "I know I’ll feel the pressure tomorrow," he admitted, recalling his back‑to‑back victories at the Kenya Open and the South African Open in February.
"Having won twice already this year, I have a better idea of how to handle it, but I’ll still feel the nerves at the first tee and throughout the day." Matt Fitzpatrick, fresh from a win in France the previous week, also enjoyed a strong start, carding six birdies in his first seven holes. He steadied his play thereafter, finishing with a 66 that left him six shots off the lead, alongside defending champion Robert MacIntyre.
Five‑time major champion Brooks Koepka posted a 70 on the Old Course, finding himself eight strokes behind the leader. The final round will be contested on the legendary links of St Andrews. Jarvis expressed his excitement about the prospect of leading the field on the Sunday that many golfers consider the ultimate stage. "Every golfer dreams of holding the lead on the Old Course on Sunday.
I’ve got goosebumps just thinking about it. Even if I don’t end up winning, I’ll savor the experience of leading as much as possible," he said.
Among the LIV contingent, Tyrrell Hatton and Cam Smith—who famously won the 2022 Open Championship at St Andrews—were among the 14 players who missed the cut, underscoring the depth of competition. Meronk shared his broader ambitions, indicating he intends to play as many DP World Tour events as possible to secure a high finish in the Race to Dubai and lock in his tour card for 2027. "I’ve been playing well these past weeks but haven’t seen the full results yet. I hope this week is the turning point.
I’ll just stick to my game tomorrow and see where it leads," he said. Off the course, the tournament was not without drama.
Celtic Football Club’s principal shareholder, Dermot Desmond, became the target of a protest by fans during the pro‑am event on Saturday. Protesters hurled tennis balls bearing his crossed‑out likeness onto the 15th‑green, forcing security to escort the 76‑year‑old from the area. The Celtic Fans Collective posted video of the incident on X, demanding greater accountability from the club’s leadership.
Celtic responded with a strongly worded statement, labeling the protest a "more serious escalation" that took a club dispute beyond football and onto the internationally recognised golfing venue. The club announced it would cease all communication with the Celtic Fans Collective and vowed to ban any individuals or groups identified as having planned or participated in the St Andrews protest. For viewers eager to follow the climax of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, live coverage will be available on Sky Sports. Golf enthusiasts can also take advantage of special offers to book a round at any of the 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland, simply by entering a course name, city, or postal code on the tournament’s website.