Questions are being raised over the decision to start the third round of the Alfred Dunhill Links here in Scotland.
Heavy rain and strong winds had halted play just after 5pm on Friday in the second round however conditions did allow, and despite continuing strong winds to resume the round early Saturday morning and officailly completed.
Organisers then scheduled a start to round three of the $5m event at 12.30pm Saturday.
All seemded to be going to plan with the professionals and their amateur partners making their way to the three host courses in readiness for a shotgun start.
However no sooner had play got underway and it was clear the winds were too strong to continue leaving officials no option but to sound the siren to suspend all play at precisely 12,47pm and with just one player, Frenchman Tom Vallaint completing two holes at Carnoustie with pars at the 7th and eighth holes to remain sharing fourth place at 10-under.
Most players, including celebrity player Catherine Zeta-Jones who had teed-off the par-4 17th, elected not to complete the hole they were playing. Indeed, Zeta-Jones marked her ball lyling in front of the 17th green and headed straight left to the comfort of the her Old Course Hotel room though she did stop to have her photograph taken with some fans.
There was the hilarious sight just ahead of Zeta-Jones of the caddy to amateur Hicky Bacon running off the 18th tee to the Swilcan Burn chasing bank notes that had blown out of the wallet of Bacon the caddy had dropped on the tee fact, one of the bank notes found the famed body of water (laughing).
Bacon is making his seventh apperance in the event.
Caddy to mateur Hicky Bacon chashing banknotes from the 18th tee in the directiion of the Swilcan Burn. Image with thanks Stuart Adsams
GOLFBYTOURMISS has been in contact with the Tour seeking answers to our question.
QUESTION HAS TO BE ASKED ….. High winds suspend play with just one hole contested day 3 @dunhilllinks
Just one hole was played ( Tom Vaillant played 2 holes)
Why then was the green flag waved for play to go ahead in the first place ?
@DPWT
✅ @TOURMISS pic.twitter.com/KUIkXZFVrm
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) October 4, 2025
