What a few days it has been for Scottish golf. As if it wasn’t enough that iconic images of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship were beamed across the globe, along came two of the country’s lesser-known players to announce themselves on the international stage.
First there was world No979 Michael Stewart stunning the home galleries with a fairytale tie for fourth at the game’s spiritual home. The 36-year-old Ayrshireman who had started his week competing in a Tartan Pro Tour event ended it with a £168,000 cheque and a chance of playing on the DP World Tour next season.
Then there was Sandy Scott becoming the first Scottish professional since Sandy Lyle in 1988 to win back-to-back titles in the US. Fourteen days after securing his PGA Tour card with a victory in Ohio, the 28-year-old pulled off another one in Oklahoma to join fellow Scot Bob MacIntyre in the world’s top 100.
MacIntyre didn’t do badly either. Defending his title in Fife, the 30-year-old from Oban tied for sixth, but he may sit out the rest of the DP World Tour season due to security concerns in the Middle East. If he does, there will be no shortage of alternative storylines for Scottish golf in the days and weeks ahead.
Stewart, for example, must be pinching himself. Last Wednesday, he earned £2,365 for finishing second at the Duddingston Classic.
The following day, he was teeing it up at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, and went on to play so well across the links of Carnoustie, Kingsbarns and St Andrews that he carded a 17-under-par total, level with Tommy Fleetwood and just ahead of MacIntyre and Brooks Koepka.
Michael Stewart has gone from the Tartan Pro Tour to eyeing a promotion to the DP World Tour
His performance entitles him to keep similar company at this week’s Spanish Open in Madrid, although it wasn’t until yesterday that Stewart decided to take up that option. His first thought was to play in the season-ending Tartan Pro Tour event at Gleneagles where he would have been in line to secure a HotelPlanner Tour card for next season.
But it later emerged that he was already on course to earn a strong membership category on the second-tier Tour courtesy of his heroics in Fife. And with affiliate membership on the DP World Tour, a strong outing in Madrid could earn him playing privileges on the main circuit in 2027.
All a little confusing, perhaps, but the bottom line is that Stewart has taken a monumental leap forward. His professional career has been a long struggle, but he was an outstanding amateur and his abilities have not gone unnoticed by those in the know. MacIntyre even described him as the ‘best chipper and putter on the whole planet’.
Having leapt almost 500 places to 483 in the world rankings, Stewart said: ‘This is amazing. It gives yourself a little bit more belief that you can go on and compete at this level. Just keep working hard.
‘I’m just delighted at the fact that I’m 36 years old and I still haven’t lost the desire to practise hard and perform. And, when you get on the stage, you can do it.’
Sandy Scott has become the first Scot since Sandy Lyle to win successive golf tournaments
Across the pond, Scott is also taking progress in his stride. Two weeks ago, he secured his first title on the Korn Ferry Tour by winning the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship in Ohio. On Sunday night, he made it two in a row with a playoff triumph at the Compliance Solutions Championship in Oklahoma. The first of those secured a PGA Tour card for next season, the second a jump to 87 in the world rankings, 68 places below MacIntyre, the only other Scot in the top 100.
The Nairn player began his final round three shots behind 54-hole leader Trent Phillips, but a six-under 64 sent him surging up the leaderboard and into a tie with American William Sides after 72 holes. A birdie at the fourth playoff hole earned him the trophy and took his prize money for the two titles to £408,341. He tops the standings heading into this week’s season-ending Korn Ferry Tour Championship.
‘I was delighted when the putt went in, probably some relief there as well,’ said Scott. ‘It was a long day. There’s probably stuff coursing through my body right now that’s never been there.
‘I have always had the belief that I can do it. That’s why we all tee it up, I think that’s where we all see ourselves going.
Robert MacIntyre remains Scotland’s No 1 but he is likely to be out of action until December
‘Belief is a big part of this game. To win the last two weeks is pretty special.’
That Scott has overcome serious injury to get this far adds weight to his achievement. He has needed time off to deal with a recurrence of the problem.
‘I’m proud of the fight to get here,’ he said. ‘I’m grateful for the support I’ve had. I have gone through some ups and downs, injuries and what not. When it first flared up in college, it took a couple of surgeries and some steroid injections, and I was out for the best part of two years. It took a lot of perseverance and help.’
The hope is that Scott has put the injury behind him. He says he has learned to manage the problem and that he is feeling good. He and a few of his fellow Scots have a lot to look forward to.
