2026 Alfred Dunhill Links: MacIntyre looking for big week to secure spot in Abu Dhabi
It is remarkable that Robert MacIntyre, the current Alfred Dunhill Links Champion and member of the last two European Ryder Cup teams, is not currently qualified to play in the DP World Tour's season-ending playoffs, but that is the result of the widening in the gap between the PGA TOUR and DP World Tour.
MacIntyre played his first DP World Tour event of the season at the Genesis Scottish Open in July, and recently played in the Amgen Irish Open and BMW PGA Championship, so he will meet the minimum criteria for membership by playing this week. 4 DP World Tour events played in all year, and if he fails to earn enough points to keep himself inside the top 70 on the Race to Dubai his season will end this week.
His next scheduled event is the Hero World Challenge, a 20-man invitational hosted by Tiger Woods in December, an OWGR counting event which is not part of either the PGA TOUR or DP World Tour, but is endorsed by the PGA TOUR as part of their 'Challenge Season'. MacIntyre confirmed that he will begin his 2027 season at The American Express in January, meaning he will miss the Hero Dubai Desert Classic again.
The 30-year-old from Oban is adjusting to life as a recently new father, joining his contemporaries Tyrrell Hatton and Matt Fitzpatrick as a new father on Tour. Being a father who plays on the tours of the world is a challenge, and no doubt affects those golfers who go through it, especially when they are at or near their peak performance on the golf course.
Bob admitted that he was using this week to scout out the changes to the Old Course ahead of next summer's Open Championship here, something which other top players should have done when planning their schedules for 2026. Earlier this year he finished in a tie for 14th at the Irish Open at Trump Doonbeg, and in a tie for 3rd at the Genesis Scottish Open, demonstrating his links prowess. MacIntyre would become the first Scot to win the title twice if he lifted the trophy on Sunday night, going one better than Paul Lawrie, Stephen Gallacher and Colin Montgomerie.
MacIntyre plays with Brett Overman in the pro-am, and tees off his defence in the same group as 3-time Champion Tyrrell Hatton (and his father Jeff). They tee off at the 10th hole at Carnoustie at 0900 on Thursday.
SHANK, by Matt Hooper
Matt Hooper is an Associate Member of the Sports Journalists Association
SHANK's coverage of the 2026 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is sponsored by Birdies St. Andrews - the best Pizza Takeaway in St Andrews, open until 3am daily
13 Bell Street, St Andrews KY16 9UR
01334 611709
Comments