Michael Stewart & Jack Buchanan Share Alfred Dunhill Links Lead

• Michael Stewart and Jack Buchanan share the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship lead after 65s.
• Casey Jarvis and MJ Daffue are one shot behind on 6-under.
• MJ Daffue and Paul Harris share the team lead with Ivan Cantero and Tom Jermoluk on 12-under.

Michael Stewart turned a late sponsor’s invitation into a share of the first-round lead at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, shooting 7-under 65 at Carnoustie without a practice round. Jack Buchanan matched that score at Kingsbarns as two championship debutants set the pace on Thursday.

Stewart, 36, received his invitation on Monday and arrived straight from the Tartan Pro Tour. Making only his sixth DP World Tour start, the Scot was first to post the clubhouse target.

“It’s easy to get yourself up for this event, isn’t it?” he said.

“It was fine. I played Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, straight here and courses I know well anyway. Played here a lot in the past and just delighted to be part of the event.”

Stewart made five birdies and an eagle at the par-4 12th at Carnoustie.

“Today the putter was really good again which was nice,” he said. “It’s not been behaving as well as it usually has the last sort of couple of events. Again, the long game was good today and it was nice to see some putts go in on the back nine.”

Yesterday: Finished 2nd on the Tartan Pro Tour
Today: Leading the @dunhilllinks 🤩

Michael Stewart cards an opening round 65 (-7) at Carnoustie 📈#DunhillLinks pic.twitter.com/EYWrQjEZMJ

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) October 1, 2026

Buchanan Finds His Range at Kingsbarns

Buchanan began with four birdies in his opening six holes, reaching the turn in 32. Further gains at the 10th, 13th and 16th completed a bogey-free 65 and brought the Australian alongside Stewart.

“My approach play was really good. I think I basically hit 18 greens. Took a little bit of stress off myself and yeah made a few birdies,” Buchanan said.

Buchanan arrived after back-to-back missed cuts at the Omega European Masters and last week’s FedEx Open de France.

“It’s been a bit of a struggle this year,” he said. “Kind of missed a few cuts by one. I definitely feel like I’m becoming a better player before it starts to click a little bit.”

“Last week I felt like my iron play was good and struggled off the tee but was in play off the tee today. So I was able to take advantage of that.”

South Africans Casey Jarvis and MJ Daffue finished one stroke behind the leaders with 66s. Seven players shared fifth place on 5-under: Christiaan Burke, Hennie du Plessis, Mikael Lindberg, Dean Burmester, Brandon Stone, Daniel van Tonder and Hugo Townsend.

Matt Fitzpatrick, last week’s champion, held an early share of the lead before finishing on 4-under. He heads to Kingsbarns on Friday among a group of 12 players on that score, including Sepp Straka.

"BOSH!"

Former @englandcricket captain @MichaelVaughan birdies the 13th at Kingsbarns 💪#DunhillLinks pic.twitter.com/8wvkEbSmsC

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) October 1, 2026

Two Pairs Share the Team Lead

Daffue also featured at the top of the team leaderboard, partnering amateur Paul Harris to 12-under. Ivan Cantero and Tom Jermoluk matched their opening score.

Andreas Halvorsen and Kristofer Kraus, Christiaan Burke and John Van Wyk, and Daniel Young and Jim Davidson were one shot back on 11-under.

The team competition pairs each professional with an amateur, with the better of the professional’s score and the amateur’s net score counting on each hole.

Players rotate through Carnoustie, Kingsbarns and the Old Course at St Andrews over the first three days. After 54 holes, the 60 top professionals, including those tied, and the top 20 teams advance to Sunday’s final round at the Old Course.

Related: Patrick Reed Confirms DP World Tour Championship Place as Race to Dubai Leader

The American will make his eighth appearance on the Earth course in November, with Rory McIlroy pursuing a record-equalling eighth season title.

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