LIV Golf's Adrian Meronk wins Dunhill Links at St Andrews, ten years after turning pro at the same event

Adrian Meronk has won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews, ten years after making his professional debut at the same event. The 33-year-old Pole closed with a four-under 68 on the Old Course on Sunday (4 October) to finish on 20 under par, two shots clear of Niklas Norgaard and overnight leader Casey Jarvis.

The win is Meronk's fifth on the DP World Tour and his first since 2023. It also secures his place on the tour through the 2028 season, a key goal for a player who now competes on LIV Golf.

How the final round unfolded

Meronk set up his victory with a 63 at Kingsbarns in the third round, which put him in the hunt behind Jarvis. On Sunday he started fast, rolling in a long birdie putt at the first and adding another at the second, and he had three birdies in his opening five holes.

Jarvis, the South African who led overnight, lost ground with bogeys at the 9th and the par-three 11th, where his chip rolled back off the green. Meronk, playing in the group ahead, birdied the 12th and held on from there. Jarvis needed an eagle at the 18th to force a play-off and could not convert.

Jarvis and Denmark's Norgaard finished tied for second on 18 under. Tommy Fleetwood produced the round of the day, a bogey-free 64, to finish on 17 under alongside Scotland's Michael Stewart, who eagled the 13th from 112 yards. Defending champion Robert MacIntyre and Brooks Koepka shared sixth on 16 under.

First Polish winner at the Home of Golf

Meronk became the first player from Poland to win at St Andrews. He said winning there after a decade as a professional was "a dream come true".

He also took the team title with his amateur partner Tom Chaplin, the Keane singer. The Dunhill Links is played as a pro-am across three courses, the Old Course, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, before the final round at St Andrews.

What the win means for Meronk

Meronk plays on LIV Golf with the Cleeks team and has kept his DP World Tour membership under the tour's conditional release arrangement for 2026, which allows some members to play in conflicting LIV events. Securing his card through 2028 removes any doubt about his status for the next two seasons.

The prize of about US$816,000 lifted him 103 places to 38th in the Race to Dubai rankings, according to The Scotsman. That puts him in a much stronger position for the season-ending events in the Middle East later this year.

The week also marked the end of a career. Oliver Wilson, who won this event in 2014, retired as a professional after missing the cut.

What's next on tour

The DP World Tour season now builds towards its season-ending events in the Middle East. Fans in Malaysia can also look forward to the LPGA Tour's Maybank Championship at the end of the month, with the final round scheduled for 1 November.

Key takeaways

• Adrian Meronk shot a closing 68 to win the Dunhill Links on 20 under, two ahead of Niklas Norgaard and Casey Jarvis.
• It is his fifth DP World Tour title, his first since 2023, and secures his tour card through 2028.
• He is the first Polish golfer to win at St Andrews, where he made his pro debut ten years ago.
• Tommy Fleetwood's 64 was the round of the day; defending champion Robert MacIntyre finished tied sixth.

FAQ

Who won the 2026 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship? Adrian Meronk of Poland won on 20 under par, two shots ahead of Niklas Norgaard and Casey Jarvis.

Is Adrian Meronk a LIV Golf player? Yes. He plays for the Cleeks on LIV Golf and competes on the DP World Tour under the tour's conditional release arrangement.

How much did Meronk win at the Dunhill Links? About US$816,000, which moved him up to 38th in the Race to Dubai.

Sources: Golf Monthly, Irish Examiner, The Scotsman, Golf Magic