Tennis-Ball Protest Targets Celtic Owner at Dunhill Links
By Staff Writer
2 min read
LoopGolf
Key takeaways
- Protesters threw dozens of tennis balls carrying stickers of Dermot Desmond near the 15th green during Saturday's third round at the Old Course.
- Desmond, Celtic Football Club's majority shareholder, was playing the pro-am with five-time major champion Brooks Koepka.
- The Celtic Fans Collective claimed responsibility, saying it was protesting a lack of accountability from Desmond.
- Celtic FC called the incident a "premeditated action" and is cutting ties with the supporters' group.
- Anyone found to have taken part faces an indefinite ban from Celtic Park.
A soccer club dispute spilled onto the Old Course at St. Andrews on Saturday, when protesters threw dozens of tennis balls toward the 15th green during the third round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on the DP World Tour.
The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship pairs its DP World Tour field with a celebrity and business pro-am across the Old Course, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns each year, putting non-golfers like Desmond alongside touring professionals for all four rounds.
Why did the protest target a Dunhill Links pro-am golfer?
The balls, each marked with a crossed-out sticker of Dermot Desmond, were aimed at the pro-am field rather than the professional competition. Desmond, an Irish businessman and Celtic Football Club's longtime majority shareholder, was playing that group alongside PGA Tour star Brooks Koepka, his pro-am partner for the week. Koepka was present for the incident but was not its target.
Footage of tennis balls bouncing across the green was posted to X by the Celtic Fans Collective, the club's supporters' group, which claimed responsibility. In a statement, the group said fans wanted to confront Desmond over what they described as a pattern of avoiding accountability while running Celtic.
How did Celtic Football Club respond?
Celtic Football Club condemned the protest as a "premeditated action" carried out away from football and aimed at an individual in a private capacity. The club said protesters had "brought shame upon the name of Celtic Football Club" and announced it was severing all ties with the Celtic Fans Collective, which it said could no longer credibly claim to represent the wider fan base.
A supporter dispute over club governance crossed into an unrelated pro-am round at one of golf's most famous courses.
The club said it is reviewing the incident and that anyone established to have planned, facilitated or taken part in the protest will be banned indefinitely from Celtic Park. Celtic distinguished this episode from prior supporter protests at its own matches, calling Saturday's actions a "further and more serious escalation" because they reached outside football entirely.
Frequently asked questions
What tournament was being played when the protest happened?
The incident occurred during the third round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, a DP World Tour event played across the Old Course at St. Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.
Who is Dermot Desmond?
Desmond is an Irish billionaire and the longtime majority shareholder of Celtic Football Club, a Scottish Premiership club based in Glasgow.
What action has Celtic Football Club taken?
The club is severing ties with the Celtic Fans Collective and says anyone confirmed to have been involved in the protest will be banned indefinitely from Celtic Park.
- alfred dunhill links championship
- st andrews old course
- dermot desmond
- celtic football club
- brooks koepka
- dp world tour
- protest
