Irish billionaire Dermot Desmond, a longtime Celtic shareholder, got a seriously unwelcome surprise during Saturday’s round at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in St. Andrews. Protesters targeted Desmond, who was playing alongside five-time major champion Brooks Koepka, by throwing tennis balls with images of his face scored out onto the 15th green right as he was about to take his shot. Talk about high drama on the golf course!
Celtic Fans Are Not Messing Around
Security had to jump in fast after the incident, as disgruntled Celtic supporters made it clear they weren’t there for a friendly round of golf. A Celtic Fans Collective statement, complete with footage and images of the tennis balls, dropped online super quick after the protest. And they didn’t pull any punches, man. The group went straight after Desmond, accusing him of “using his wealth to hide from supporters and accountability” and straight-up demanding that this “arrangement cannot continue.”
The statement laid it all out: “Dermot Desmond has essentially been allowed to run Celtic Football Club whilst using his wealth to hide from supporters and accountability. Fans took the chance today to send a message that this arrangement cannot continue.” Police Scotland confirmed they were aware of tennis balls being thrown around 2 PM on Saturday, October 3, 2026, on the golf course, noting there were no reports of injuries and that enquiries are ongoing.
Not Just Any Golfer Out There
Desmond isn’t just some random celeb swinging clubs. He’s a keen golfer, usually playing at The K Club in Ireland, and he’s been a regular at the Dunhill Links Pro-Am, missing only one event in its entire 25-year history. This guy means business on the course too, not just in the boardroom, having won the team tournament twice: in 2010 with Swede Robert Karlsson, and again in 2024 with Dane Thorbjorn Olesen. He was even playing this weekend with American professional David Bryant.
Despite the intense protest at the 15th, there were no further incidents. Desmond had his own personal security guard with him, and there was a noticeable police presence near the 18th hole as he finished his round. He left the Old Course quickly in a buggy. With police enquiries still ongoing and fans making such a public statement, it’s clear this isn’t just a minor golf course disturbance; it’s a loud message demanding accountability.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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