2026 Alfred Dunhill Links: Last-minute Tartan Pro Tour invite shares lead, as Fitzpatrick continues fine form

When opportunity knocks there is no point in getting that if you don't take advantage of it. Michael Stewart plays on the Tartan Pro Tour and the MENA Tour, and on Monday this week he was teeing it up at Duddingston Golf Club the centre of Edinburgh, in the shadow of Arthur's Seat. On the same day he received the invite to play in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, and after completing the Tartan Pro Tour event and finishing in second place he hot footed it to Carnoustie on Wednesday evening to begin the championship.

Stewart, from Troon in Ayrshire, moved into the top two on the Tartan Pro Tour order of merit following his performance in Edinburgh, and is on course to secure a spot on the HotelPlanner Tour next week at the tour's final event at Gleneagles.

However, his fine play on Thursday could set up a even more golden and career-changing week for the 36-year-old. Stewart, a runner-up in the 2008 St Andrews Links Trophy, went bogey-free at Carnoustie and had an unbelievable stretch of play on the back nine beginning with an eagle at the par-five 12th, followed by four successive birdies.

He began the week playing in a tournament with a £20,250 purse and winning £2,365, and the week ends with him potentially in contention for a prize worth in excess of 300 times more. It is a small indication of the talent which is currently on the Tartan Pro Tour, and there is no doubt the fact the tour visits Royal Dornoch, Southerness, Leven Links and St Andrews Links prepares the professionals on the Tartan Pro Tour for when the call comes from the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

“I played Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, straight here and these are courses I know well, anyway. I have played here a lot in the past and I’m just delighted to be part of the event. It's easy to get yourself up for this, isn't it?”

“The front nine [at Carnoustie] is sort of tricky into that wind. You get to 10; you know there's going to be a lot more chances. And I just managed to put myself in good spots and managed to hole some putts."

“I feel at home playing links golf. I grew up on a links course. I don't mind the wind. As long as the rain stays away, we're good to go.” (Quotes courtesy Alfred Dunhill Links Championship Media Office)

In-form Matt Fitzpatrick began his challenge for a second Alfred Dunhill Links title, back-to-back DP World Tour win, and fourth individual win of the year with a steady round of 68. The World Number 4, and pre-tournament favourite made four birdies in his first six holes including 11, 12, 14 and 15, and added another at the 2nd to reach 5-under-par for the round. A disappointing bogey at the par three 8th hole and a par at his final hole, the 9th, after a visit to the trees down the left saw him finish at 4-under-par and three shots off the lead.

Defending champion Robert MacIntyre made three birdies and two bogeys in a round of 71 to leave himself well off the lead, and his playing partner Tyrrell Hatton faces a stern test to make the cut on Saturday night after he opened with a 2-over-par 74.

The young Spanish challengers Jose Luis Ballester and David Puig both made impressive starts, with the former well in contention after the first day. The 23-year-old Jose Luis Ballester made three birdies, an eagle and a bogey, posting 68 to sit three shots off the lead. Ballester won the 2025 PIF Saudi International and was a superstar amateur winning the Spanish, European and US Amateur Championships. His compatriot Puig got off to a slow start, finding the bunker off the tee at the first hole and making a poor bogey, before 9 pars and another bogey at the 11th hole saw him fall to 2-over-par. But the Australian PGA Champion bounced back with a birdie at the 11th and an eagle at the 12th, and went on to post 71.

SHANK, by Matt Hooper

Matt Hooper is an Associate Member of the Sports Journalists Association