Casey Jarvis opened his round with an eagle on the very first hole, a spectacular start that propelled him to a seven‑under‑par 65 on the Old Course on Saturday. That performance gave him a two‑stroke advantage in the Dunhill Links Championship as he pursues what would be his third DP World Tour title of the year. The South African played a flawless, bogey‑free round on a breezy day at the historic venue, never needing a birdie putt longer than six feet. By the end of his round he stood at 18 under par, a score that positioned him firmly on top of the leaderboard heading into the final day.
Polish golfer Adrian Meronk, one of 22 LIV Golf representatives in the field, opened with birdies on his first four holes at Kingsbarns and later carded an eagle, finishing with a 63. He sat two shots behind Jarvis, alongside England's Matthew Jordan, who posted a solid 66. Belgium's Thomas Detry, another LIV player, was a further shot back after recording a 65 at St Andrews. Jarvis began his round on the 10th tee.
His first wedge landed about six feet past the pin, spun back, and dropped into the cup for an instant eagle. He followed that with a tee shot that cleared the infamous Strath bunker and settled four feet from the hole on the par‑three 11th. When he two‑putted for birdie on the 14th, he was already five under through five holes, establishing a comfortable cushion.
"I know I'm going to feel the pressure tomorrow," Jarvis admitted, recalling his back‑to‑back victories at the Kenya Open and South African Open in February. "Having won twice already this season, I have a better sense of how to manage it, but I still expect first‑tee nerves and pressure throughout the day." Matt Fitzpatrick, fresh off a win in France the previous week, also enjoyed a blistering start, making six birdies in his first seven holes.
He steadied his play thereafter, finishing with a 66 that left him six shots off the lead, tied with defending champion Robert MacIntyre. Five‑time major champion Brooks Koepka posted a 70 on the Old Course, putting him eight strokes behind the leader. The final round will be contested on the iconic links of St Andrews.
Jarvis expressed his excitement about the prospect of leading on the Sunday, saying, "Every golfer dreams of holding the lead on the Old Course on Sunday. I got goosebumps just standing here.
I can't wait for tomorrow. Even if I don't win, being in front is something I will cherish." Among the LIV contingent, Tyrrell Hatton and Cam Smith—who captured the 2022 Open Championship at St Andrews—were among the 14 players who missed the cut. Meronk explained his strategy for the future, noting that he intends to compete as often as possible on the DP World Tour in order to finish high enough in the Race to Dubai to secure his 2027 card, keeping his options open amid the ongoing LIV situation.
"I've been playing very well the last couple of weeks but haven't seen the full results yet," he said. "Hopefully this is the week. I'll just play my game tomorrow and see what happens." Off the course, Celtic Football Club's principal shareholder Dermot Desmond faced an unexpected protest when tennis balls bearing his crossed‑out likeness were hurled onto the 15th‑green during the pro‑am event.
The 76‑year‑old, who has drawn criticism from supporters for perceived stagnation at the club, was escorted off the course by security after the incident. The Celtic Fans Collective posted a statement on X, accompanied by video footage of the protest, demanding change at the top of the club. "Dermot Desmond has essentially been allowed to run Celtic Football Club while using his wealth to hide from supporters and accountability," the statement read.
"Fans took the chance today to send a message that this arrangement cannot continue." Celtic responded with a strongly worded rebuttal, describing the protest as a "more serious escalation" that took a club dispute beyond Celtic Park and football, disrupting an internationally recognised sporting event involving participants, organisers, and spectators who have no involvement in the dispute. The club announced it would no longer recognise or communicate with the Celtic Fans Collective and vowed to indefinitely ban any individuals or groups proven to have planned, facilitated, or participated in the St Andrews protest. The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, offering viewers a chance to follow the drama as it unfolds. Golf enthusiasts can also explore booking opportunities at over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland, with a searchable tool that accepts city, course name, or postal code.
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