We probably need to go back to the 2021 Mearns Castle Memorial to find a tournament that the From the Locker Room team were happy to sit in the stinky locker room and watch the action from a 2 foot by 1 foot window!

As our mums would say it was a good to dry your washing in St Andrews…and not a good day to sport your new fancy golf cart and bag, which evidently was designed for 40 mph gale force winds on the links of St Andrews.

Watching the players head out on to the first tee was like a Ridley Scott epic as valiant warriors head off to war knowing they all won’t come back.

But after all was said and done, trolleys righted time and time again, it was a new face standing in the winner’s circle. At his 17th time of asking Stuart Sutherland, a founding member of the Tour, one of only 2 players to play every Ryder Cup, and an original member of the Order of Merit field was the winner, and we had the pleasure of catching up with him.

Stuart, welcome to your winners’ interview, how does it feel to win your first ever EuroDov Tour event?

“Hi guys, it feels really good, if I am honest it came as a bit of a surprise as had little to no expectation of good golf due to the conditions out there.”

We’ll get to the conditions but talk us through this, you were a founding member of the Tour, you’ve played 16 Order of Merit events, did you ever think a win just wouldn’t happen?

“If I am honest, I definitely didn’t expect it, consistency has been a major issue for me, but it all seemed to come good on Sunday.”

Prior to winning the St Andrews Open your best finish in an event ever was T3rd – you must be excited about what is in front of you?

“⁠Not really! I’m definitely in the social golf category. Enjoying the day out is more important than winning.”

I am sure that’s the attitude of someone who has never won, we’ll see how it fairs the rest of the season. But let’s talk about the conditions, it was very tough out there today, how did you approach the competition?

“⁠It was brutal! I picked my golf bag up from falling over more times than picking the golf ball out of the hole! I just tried to play my game, play within myself, and not worry about what was going on around me. I had to really focus on punch shots and chip and runs, that was the percentage play and if I go them right, I had a chance to score.”

How did you feel you were playing as you advanced through the holes?

“It’s a cliché but I really just tried to focus on one shot at a time. Conditions were equally challenging the whole way round. There was no let up!”

It was a bit of an unconventional event, only 14 holes, but an even more unconventional way to find out you won, how did the Tour inform you?

“The 14 holes probably worked in my favour as the holes around the pond are some I find most challenging on the course.

I got an unexpected text message from the Tour on Monday morning, which was actually a really good way to start the week!”

You are now guaranteed an exemption from Q-School in 2025, what does that mean for the rest of your season?

“⁠Sit back with my feet up! Haha!

No, as mentioned, I’m definitely in the social golf category. Getting out and enjoying the round of golf with the guys is most important to me.”

The Kinghorn Classic is next, how do you rate your chances there?

“⁠If it’s as windy as it was on Sunday, I might be busy and unable to play! Kinghorn isn’t a favourite course of mine so don’t have any expectations.”

After your win was announced there was a flurry of congratulations messages, that must have felt good?

“⁠Definitely, we are very fortunate to have a great group of guys playing on Tour.”

Well, there we have it folks, Sutherland now etches his name in the history of the Tour as the 3rd winner of the St Andrews Open, the 12th winner of an Order of Merit event, and the 16th winner of a Tour event.

He’s a well-liked player, and many have talked of his chances of winning on Tour, and just to stick the boot into old pencil pusher and statistician, EuroDov Reporter, Sutherland’s 7/1 odds look a bit ridiculous now.

Be sure to check out the Players’ reactions interview to hear from more of the field after the St Andrews Open and join us at the end of the month for the Kinghorn Classic.