2026 Alfred Dunhill Links: Big names make their move on Friday, but lesser-lights lead

So far in the 24 previous editions of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship only one man has successfully defended the title. Tyrrell Hatton in 2016 and 2017.

Scotland's Robert MacIntyre has made a superb start in his quest to follow in his Ryder Cup teammates footsteps, shooting rounds of 71 at Carnoustie, and 65 at Kingsbarns to sit in a tie for ninth place, just three shots behind the leader Casey Jarvis. Despite the varying forecasts the rain stayed away on Friday and for the most par the sun shone on this spectacular links, which sits 6 miles south of St Andrews.

Birdies at the 1st, 3rd, 6th and 9th saw the 30-year-old from Oban go out in 32, before he dropped the only shot of the round at the par-four 11th. MacIntyre bounced back with three consecutive birdies from 12 to 14, and put the exclamation mark on his round with a birdie at the par-five 16th. At times a stiff breeze blew across the links, making holes 1, 2, 3, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 play downwind, but also making holes 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12 and 18 play into the wind.

MacIntyre is tied for 9th place with American Brooks Koepka, among others. Koepka had a bogey-free round at Kingsbarns, making five birdies in a round of 67. The 36-year-old could in be in contention to register his best finish of the season, and maybe even win on his favourite course over the weekend. Local hope Connor Syme is one shot further back at 7-under-par after a round of 67 at Kingsbarns, and potentially could be in contention to also secure his highest finish of a difficult season.

Matt Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood, Lucas Herbert, Padraig Harrington, David Puig, and Carlos Ortiz are all tied at 6-under-par, within five shots of the lead heading into the weekend. The cut mark currently sits at 5-under-par, and we could have a bunched leaderboard heading into Sunday.

That is of course if the leader doesn't go low on Saturday in St Andrews.

Jarvis, from South Africa, won in back-to-back weeks in February and March at the Kenya Open and South African Open, and a win here could push him into the top three of the Race to Dubai. 2026 already looks like being a defining one for the 23-year-old, who is set to secure one of the 10 PGA TOUR cards on offer at the end of the season. So far Jarvis has made 15 birdies and an eagle over the first two rounds at Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, and shows no signs of letting up with the Old Course set to be very receptive after a night of heavy rain.

“I played really nicely. I felt the whole day, I hit the ball really solid. My approach play was really good. Luckily I rolled in a few putts in my front nine, and I just felt really in control of my game out there,” said Jarvis.

Overnight tied leader Michael Stewart back up his 65 at Carnoustie with a hard-fought 71 to sit tied for 9th place at 8-under-par, and he will be looking forward to returning to St Andrews Links, where he finished as runner-up in the 2008 St Andrews Links Trophy.

SHANK, by Matt Hooper

Matt Hooper is an Associate Member of the Sports Journalists Association