Irish billionaire businessman and longtime Celtic shareholder Dermot Desmond, who was competing alongside five-time major champion Brooks Koepka at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, was targeted by protesters during Saturday's round at St. Andrews.
Desmond had tennis balls, with images of his face scored out, thrown onto the green of the 15th hole as he prepared to take his shot. He is competing at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St. Andrews, an event which involves professionals and celebrities.
However, security had to step in after Desmond was targeted by a protest from disgruntled Celtic supporters who lobbed balls onto the course.
A Celtic Fans Collective statement has since been shared online with footage of the incident and
an image of one of the tennis balls.
Celtic principal shareholder Dermot Desmond was targeted by a group of protestors while he was playing at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship today.
— Anthony Joseph (@AnthonyRJoseph) October 3, 2026
The Irish billionaire and his son, Ross, are competing at the golf tournament in St Andrews this weekend.
A group of protestors… pic.twitter.com/gC3vYtS9AT
The group called out Desmond for "using his wealth to hide from supporters and accountability" as they demanded the "arrangement cannot continue".
The statement read: "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."
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 2pm on Saturday, 3 October, 2026, we were aware of tennis balls being thrown on the golf course in St Andrews.
"There were no reports of injuries. Enquiries are ongoing.”
Desmond was accompanied by a personal security guard during the round, and there was a noticeable police presence at the side of the 18th hole as the Irishman made his way up it. There were no further incidents and he left the Old Course in a buggy.
Desmond, a keen golfer who plays mostly at The K Club in Ireland, is a regular in the Dunhill Links Pro-Am and has only missed one in the event’s 25-year history.
Playing this weekend with American professional David Bryant, Desmond won the team tournament with Swede Robert Karlsson for the first time in 2010 and won again in 2024 with Dane Thorbjorn Olesen.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Scottish soccer owner targeted by protest at Dunhill Links while playing with Brooks Koepka
