Michael Stewart aiming to kick on after dream Dunhill debut as role of 'special partner' hailed

The Ayrshireman woke up on Monday still pinching himself after finishing joint-fourth behind Pole Adrian Meronk at St Andrews on Sunday to pick up a career-best cheque for just under £168,000 and jump from 979th to 483rd in the Official World Golf Ranking.

As David Law, one of Stewart’s closest friends observed, it was no surprise to some people that a player who was blessed with natural talent had shone on one of the biggest stages on the DP World Tour as he finished alongside last year’s FedEx Cup winner Tommy Fleetwood and just ahead of defending champion Bob MacIntyre and five-time major winner Brooks Koepka.

As a young amateur, Stewart won the Scottish Boys’ Championship in 2009 before adding the Scottish Amateur Championship the following year. He then played on a winning GB&I team in the Walker Cup at Royal Aberdeen in 2011 against a US side that contained Jordan Spieth, Patrick Cantlay and Russell Henley.

Climbing the ladder in the professional game has proved tough for Stewart over the past 15 years while he’s watched the likes of Law go on and taste success on both the DP World Tour and HotelPlanner Tour, but, on the back of showing he has a serious golf game - MacIntyre reckons his compatriot is the “best chipper and putter on the whole planet” - Stewart is hoping he can now really kick on and be a late bloomer in the paid ranks.

“Yeah, I just think it solidifies the fact that you can definitely compete at this style of golf,” he told The Scotsman. ”What I was really, really pleased with was coming down the stretch, I gave myself chances. Once I holed that wedge shot (from 112 yards for an eagle at the 13th in the closing circuit on the Old Course), it would have been easy, I feel like, to sort of go into your shell a little bit.

“Whereas I felt like I kept my foot down. I had a great chance on 14, a really good chance on 15. Nice two-putt on 16. Seventeen, I don't know how you make birdie on that hole now as that back tee is so difficult. I actually hit a terrible tee shot. I hit the ground before the ball and got seriously lucky.”

Everyone gets a break here or there over 72 holes and, even allowing for the fact that he’s played links golf all his life, it was remarkable that Stewart played as well as he did in just his fifth DP World Tour start and a debut in the Dunhill Links despite not playing a practice round due to being in action in the Tartan Pro Tour’s Duddingston Classic last Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

“Oh, jeez, good question,” he replied to being asked if this effort was better than qualifying for The Open at Royal Liverpool in 2023, making the cut and ending up just outside the top 50 behind Brian Harman. “Yeah, without a doubt,” he added, quickly. “The Open was amazing, but I felt really, I don't know, disheartened after the Sunday at The Open because I felt like I sort of threw away what could have been a really special weekend and obviously the year after was at Troon and I wanted to play that.

“But, yeah, this is amazing. It gives yourself a little bit more belief that you can go on and compete at this level. Just keep working hard. I'm just delighted at the fact that I'm 36 years old and I still haven't lost the desire to practice hard and perform. And, when you get on the stage, you can do it.”

After initially thinking he would be teeing up in this week’s Tartan Pro Tour season-eding event, the £30,000 Gleneagles Masters, after putting himself in a position to secure one of two 2027 HotelPlanner Tour up for grabs, Stewart has changed his mind.

Instead, he is heading to Spain to take up another DP World Tour opportunity he earned through his Dunhill Links finish in this week’s $3.75 million Open de Espana in Madrid. Stewart only made that call after learning that he is on course to secure a main tour ticket through a Non-Members Points List and now doesn’t have to worry about being leapfrogged by either Craig Howie, Craig Ross or Sam Locke at Gleneagles.

It’s a terrific boost to know that he will be playing at a higher level next season, which will delight the people who have supported him through thick and thin over the years. “To be able to continue to play golf at 36 and you're playing the Tartan Pro Tour, it takes a pretty special partner to allow you to keep doing that,” he admitted. “My wife, Abbie, has her own business. She's a florist. She grafts just as hard as me, harder than me.

“She’s supported me, as have my mum and dad, Robbie and Pauline. Yeah, they've never ever wavered in their belief. They've been the one to tell me they believe in me. Whereas sometimes I'm like, ‘am I good enough at times?’ But, listen, this is one week. You need to put it together over a season. So, hopefully, this can kickstart maybe a little bit of momentum.”

No-one would be happier than Law to see Stewart becoming a DP World Tour card holder. “It was absolutely phenomenal what he did in the Dunhill, though I am not surprised,” said the Aberdonian. “He’s been playing great all season and he’s one of those guys who doesn’t shy away from the big occasion, which the Dunhill Links is.

“It just shows you that good golf transfers anywhere as long as you’ve got the belief and confidence to actually go out there and do it. Mikey still believes he can get out here and he has proved that he can pull off a big performance like the one last week.”