Why Chris Evans can’t play with Andy Murray at Dunhill Links — 14 years after golf ban

As the 2025 Dunhill Links Championship is cut to 54 holes by bad weather, one man remains frozen out for good.

The DP World Tour confirmed on Saturday afternoon that the iconic pro-am event has been shortened to three rounds thanks to relentless Scottish rain and Storm Amy.

Only for one celebrity golfer, the event has been permanently cut short.

Radio legend Chris Evans is barred for life from the Dunhill Links, 14 years after his shock victory sparked fury and whispers of foul play.

While stars like tennis legend Andy Murray and a host of pros such as Ryder Cup heroes Robert MacIntyre, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick battle it out across St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns this week, Evans remains on the outside looking in.

Related:

• DP World Tour makes unfortunate Alfred Dunhill Links announcement

Back in 2011, Evans teamed up with pro golfer Nick Dougherty — and the pair went on a tear. 

They finished a staggering 40-under-par, which remains the lowest score in the tournament’s history.

In round two, they fired a round of 57. 

But what made things even more suspect was that Dougherty shot just 4-under par with his own ball and missed the 54-hole pro cut. 

Dougherty was still able to play in the final round alongside Evans though in order to contribute to their team score. 

They finished the final round on the famous Old Course with a 61 to finish three shots clear of Michael Hoey and William Farish Jr.

Rory McIlroy and his father Gerry were seven shots behind in a tie for fifth.

While it should have been the ultimate feel-good moment for Evans, instead it blew up into one of golf’s biggest celebrity scandals.

Competitors questioned Evans’ 10 handicap, claiming it didn’t match his true ability.

Evans later admitted the whispers were impossible to ignore: 

"Along with congratulations, there were rumblings of dissent. The gloaming was dark with talk of my handicap being too high for my ability."

Eager to defend his title in 2012, Evans even booked time off from his radio show. 

But he soon discovered he had been banned by tournament officials. 

Evans said at the time of his ban: 

"Sadly, I will not be defending my title this year. Why? It transpires I’ve been barred for life. Suffice to say, if we were kids in the playground, the boy who owns the ball just took it home in a huff because his team didn’t win."

Tournament officials have never publicly explained Evans' ban, but reports suggest complaints over his handicap played a key role.

Evans hosts The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with Sky on Virgin Radio UK.

Evans later joked about launching his own rival competition as a result of being shut out at the Dunhill Links. 

"It crossed my mind to set up an alternative tournament on the same dates. I think I’ll call it the Dung Hill Cup."

While still understandably disappointed to miss out on playing in the Dunhill Links to this day, Evans will likely not have minded missing out too much this week as a result of the abysmal weather at the Home of Golf. 

Dunhill Links reduced to 54 holes

The second round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship was completed on Saturday morning after play was suspended on Friday due to unplayable courses across the three tournament sites at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, as a result of Storm Amy.

The third round was scheduled to begin at 12:30 on Saturday afternoon, but after gusts of up to 56mph were reported, play was halted at 12:50 and eventually cancelled for the day.

Mikael Eriksson, Tournament Director of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, said: "Following consultation with IMG, Alfred Dunhill and the DP World Tour, the decision has been made to reduce this year’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship to 54 holes.

"We attempted to begin the third round this afternoon, but shortly after play started wind gusts of 56mph were recorded which resulted in play being suspended. Conditions for the remainder of the day gave us no option but to cancel the third round, which will start afresh on Sunday morning."

The final round will be a two-tee start over all three courses, from 09:00-11:23.

Check out the final round tee times at the Alfred Dunhill Links. 

MacIntyre and Richard Sterne hold a share of the lead heading into the final round, with former Open champion and LIV Golf's Louis Oosthuizen one shot off the pace. 

VIEW FULL SCORES HERE