Unheralded Stewart stars at Alfred Dunhill Links
On a day when Matt Fitzpatrick began his quest for a fifth win of the year, Robert MacIntyre reacted furiously to a drone and Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter made a DP World Tour return after an absence of almost four years, two players outside the world's top 700 stole the show at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
At the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, surprise stars Michael Stewart and Jack Buchanan stole attention from top players. Stewart, 36 and ranked 979, along with 21-year-old amateur Jack Buchanan, ranked 788, both shot 65 to sit at seven under after round one. Stewart, a former five-time major winner, played his first European tour events in 2023, and finished second in the Tartan Tour's Duddingston Classic the day before.
Buchanan, an amateur, also received a sponsor's invite. Stewart's remarkable back nine at Carnoustie, including an eagle on the par-five 12th, propelled him to steal the lead. Buchanan's equally impressive round at Kingsbarns contrasted with the drama of former sports stars paired with professionals.
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