Inside the Dunhill: Big Bob Mac, Bieber and Beyond

The inside track on this year's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship

A year ago, Bob MacIntyre was sitting in a pre-Dunhill press room, dreaming of home-soil glory. Fast-forward twelve months, two runner-up finishes on the PGA tour, a Ryder Cup, and Scotland’s favourite left-handed swinger finally got his win at home.  

After a couple of rounds battling the wind and rain, MacIntyre lifted the Alfred Dunhill Links trophy on Sunday afternoon. Or, as the Daily Express put it on Monday morning: “Big Mac feasts on a diet of success.” 

MacIntyre became the first Scot in twenty years to win the Dunhill (Colin Montgomerie did it in 2005), with the classic Scottish mixture of riotous winds and horizontal rain from Storm Amy playing into his hands. 

But this year’s Dunhill wasn’t just about the home-soil win.  

The abuse received by Team Europe at the Ryder Cup hung like a stubborn cloud over the press rooms, with each player conference focusing on the fallout rather than the week ahead.  

Matt Fitzpatrick was asked by the press, “When you picked up the Ryder Cup trophy, you said you felt a bit of bitterness. Who specifically were you talking about?” 

Fitzpatrick, having absorbed weeks of abuse aimed at him and his family, didn’t hesitate: “The CEO of the PGA of America.”  

The CEO of the PGA of America, Derek Sprague, had suggested that the abuse hurled at Team Europe in New York was no worse than what Team USA experienced in Rome in 2023. 

Tyrell Hatton, Nicolas Colsaerts, and Tommy Fleetwood struck similar notes, criticising sections of the US fans for their abusive comments during the Ryder Cup. They echoed each other’s sentiments, calling for deterrents against such behaviour and adding that it was laughable to suggest that US players received the same treatment in Europe.  

Once the venting was over, attention turned to the golf. 

Picture the eighteenth at Carnoustie, in the peak of Storm Amy: rain dripping down your collar as you wait for the pros and celebs to come off for a quote, only to be told they were too cold and wet to talk.  

But hey — God loves a trier!  

At least Genesis bassist Mike Rutherford was feeling optimistic. Bracing himself against the Carnoustie winds, he declared that his “golfing prowess” would see him through the storm.  

Waiting around wasn’t very productive, and it soon became clear that celebrity interactions required strategy.  

The winning move? Watch the warm-up area like a hawk, then give a nod and cheer when your target sinks a five-foot putt. This worked wonders with ex-England cricket captain Michael Vaughan, who later admitted his chances of winning were about as slim as Manchester United’s hopes of a Premier League title.  

His partner, 23-year-old Australian pro golfer Elvis Smylie, received glowing reviews, with Vaughan tipping him as “one to watch” for the future.  

Of course, the Dunhill is not confined to the fairways: the town itself becomes part of the show.  

Piers Morgan was spotted embracing the owner of Little Italy like an old friend. The tactical opening of Tiger Woods and Justin Timberlake’s new hub, T-Squared Social, on day one provided the perfect gathering spot for students and fans alike.  

Elsewhere in town, what was meant to be a quiet dinner out with my parents on Friday night turned into a Justin Bieber sighting of sorts — his team had allegedly taken over the upstairs of Haar, with police briefly closing off the road outside.  

Back on the courses, another tried-and-tested tactic of high-level journalism involved befriending the caddie of your favourite player — a job made particularly easy at the Dunhill as the caddies’ bibs announce the surname of exactly who they’re lugging about.  

This presents a slight issue if you are trying to find Bill Murray and get stuck with the caddie of some bloke called Andy. Andy Murray, that is — local legend, fan favourite, and, it appears, aspiring Open Championship qualifier.  

His caddie? 21-year-old Harry Robertson, who landed the gig thanks to his brother Charlie. Charlie, a rising Scottish tennis player, once mentored by Murray, phoned the two-time Wimbledon champ and vouched for Harry.  

Harry had caddied at the Dunhill three times before, but never on this stage. He described it simply as “an incredible week.” 

Meanwhile, the St Andrews Tennis Club had their viral moment when club president Ollie Davis snagged Andy for a video on their Instagram, which has since been reposted by many club alumni.  

There were poignant moments, too. Nicolas Colsaerts announced his retirement, following a long struggle with a rare kidney infection diagnosed back in 2021. His final appearance at the Dunhill was met with warm applause and a lovely surprise gift from his wife, Rachael, on the eighteenth of the Old Course. 

And so, with Bob’s victory, the curtain came down on another Alfred Dunhill Links tournament. A mix of wind and wins, birdies and Bieber, locals and legends. For a young, slightly soggy journalist, it was unforgettable — not least because St Andrews is all about community.

Whether you were working the event, chasing celebs, or watching golf with your mates, the Dunhill captured that spirit at every level.  

For now, it’s Dunhill and dusted — until next year’s storms, swings, and sightings.

Illustration by Iona Talbot Rice