Dunhill Links Championship: Casey Jarvis leads going into final round as he seeks third DP World tour title of year
After day three at the Dunhill Links Championship South Africa's Casey Jarvis has a two-shot lead; Jarvis is looking to win his third title this year on the DP World Tour; Jarvis holed out for eagle on his first hole and with that strong start posted a seven-under 65 on the Old Course
Saturday 3 October 2026 22:47, UK
Casey Jarvis holed out for eagle on his first hole and used the brilliant start to post a seven-under 65 on the Old Course on Saturday, giving him a two-shot lead in the Dunhill Links Championship as he goes for his third DP World Tour title of the year.
South Africa's Jarvis played bogey-free on a breezy day at the home of golf, and didn't make a birdie putt longer than six feet in keeping his distance against the field.
Jarvis was at 18 under going into the final round.
- Alfred Dunhill Links Championship [External Leaderboard]
- DP World Tour: Latest headlines, reports, highlights
- Get the latest Sky Sports deals or stream with no contract
Adrian Meronk of Poland, one of 22 players from LIV Golf in the field, birdied his opening four holes at Kingsbarns and had an eagle late in his round of 63. He was two shots behind with Matthew Jordan of England, who shot a 66.
Thomas Detry of Belgium, another LIV player, was a further shot back after a 65 at St Andrews.
Jarvis began his round on the 10th hole, and watched his wedge land about six feet beyond the hole and spin back into the cup. He followed that with a tee shot over the Strath bunker to four feet on the par-three 11th. When he two-putted for birdie on the 14th, he already was five under through five holes.
"I know I'm going to be feeling pressure tomorrow," said Jarvis, who won the Kenya Open and South African Open in consecutive weeks in February.
"I have won twice this year so I kind of know how to deal with it a little better. I still know I'm going to feel first tee nerves and pressure throughout the day."
Matt Fitzpatrick, coming off a victory last week in France, also got off to a great start with six birdies in his opening seven holes. He was even par the rest of the way - two birdies to go with two bogeys - for a 66 and wound up six shots behind, along with defending champion Robert MacIntyre.
Five-time major champion Brooks Koepka shot 70 on the Old Course and was eight back.
The final round is at St Andrews.
"Every golfer dreams of taking a lead, playing the Old Course on Sunday," Jarvis said. "I got goosebumps right now just standing here. I just can't wait for tomorrow. Even if I don't win, to be taking the lead, I'm just going to enjoy it as much as I can."
Tyrrell Hatton and Cam Smith, who won the British Open at St Andrews in 2022, were among 14 players from LIV who missed the cut.
Meronk said he plans to play every week he can on the DP World tour with hopes of finishing high enough in the Race to Dubai to secure his card for 2027 and keep his options open depending on what happens with LIV.
"I've been playing really well the last couple of weeks. Just didn't get the full results," Meronk said. "Hopefully, this is the week. But just play my game tomorrow and see what happens at the end."
Desmond targeted by Celtic fan protest as he played in pro-am
Meanwhile, Celtic's principal shareholder Dermot Desmond had tennis balls thrown towards him during his visit to St Andrews in a protest from fans.
The 76-year-old - who has been criticised by supporters for an apparent lack of progress on the pitch - was taking part in the pro-am event on Saturday when the disruption happened on the green of the 15th hole.
Tennis balls with pictures of Desmond's faces crossed out where thrown on to the green, with Desmond then escorted off the course by security.
The Celtic Fans Collective later released a statement on X, which included video and pictures of the protest, calling for change at the top of the club.
"Dermot Desmond has essentially been allowed to run Celtic Football Club while using his wealth to hide from supporters and accountability," the statement said.
"Fans took the chance today to send a message that this arrangement cannot continue."
Celtic hit back with a strongly-worded statement, saying the protest was a "more serious escalation" as a group of supporters "took a dispute concerning Celtic Football Club beyond Celtic Park and beyond football, to the home of golf, and disrupted an internationally recognised sporting event involving participants, organisers and spectators who have no involvement whatsoever in that dispute".
Celtic said they will no longer recognise or communicate with the pressure group Celtic Fans Collective. The club have also vowed to indefinitely ban "any individuals or groups who are established to be involved in planning, facilitating or participating" the protest at St Andrews.
Watch the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship live on Sky Sports
Get the best prices and book a round at one of 1,700 courses across the UK & Ireland
