LIV Golf’s Adrian Meronk held his nerve over a blustery Old Course at St Andrews to claim a two-shot victory in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
The 33-year-old Pole – among the DP World Tour members allowed to play in conflicting LIV Golf tournaments under the 2026 Conditional Release Agreement – made the most of overnight leader Casey Jarvis seeing his challenge fade to finish with a 68 for a 20-under total.
Meronk, who had shot a nine-under 63 in his third round at Kingsbarns, made a fast start in the penultimate group with three birdies in the opening five holes, holing from 35 feet at the first, before a bogey on the seventh, which was soon recovered on the ninth.
Two more birdies at the 12th and 14th saw him move three clear of Jarvis, who had been two ahead overnight, following costly bogeys by the South African on the ninth and then par-three 11th, where he failed to get up and down.
Although Jarvis picked a shot back up at the 15th, another bogey on the 17th left Meronk – who also dropped a stroke there, having gone off to a narrow strip of grass between the path and road – the clubhouse leader.
A fifth DP World Tour title, and his first since 2023, was then soon confirmed once the South African missed his 24-yard eagle attempt at the last.
“It is unreal, to be honest,” said an emotional Meronk, who had started his professional career a decade ago. “I never usually cry, but this one feels really special. I am just lost for words.”
Meronk added in an interview with the DP World Tour website: “It has been quite a tough year for me and to win here, 10 years after turning pro, it is a dream come true. It is unbelievable. I am extremely happy and very relieved.”
Denmark’s Niklas Norgaard finished with a four-under-par round to claim a share of second place alongside Jarvis.
Elsewhere, Tommy Fleetwood produced a superb bogey-free final round of eight-under 64, the lowest of the day, to surge up the leaderboard into a tie for third, three shots behind Meronk.
Scotland’s Michael Stewart also finished at 17 under after a 66, which included holing his approach from 112 yards for an eagle on the 13th.
Englishman Matthew Jordan, though, had a disappointing final round of three over, having looked in contention following impressive displays at Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, to end tied 11th.
Defending champion Robert MacIntyre finished with a 68 to sit at 16 under in a share of sixth alongside Brooks Koepka, who had two eagles, at the ninth and last, in his 66.
Meanwhile, former European Ryder Cup player Oliver Wilson, who missed the cut for the final round, announced on Instagram he had retired as a professional following the tournament, which he won in 2014.
PA
