Security guard for Rory McIlroy in incredible act of kindness at Scottish Open as he helps stricken spectator
Brilliant Rory McIlroy is classy on the golf course as he has streaked to a career Grand Slam.
And his personal security guard Andy Dawber also displayed real quality off the course with his actions and show of compassionate kindness at the Genesis Scottish Open.
McIlroy carries iconic status and crowds flock to follow him every time he sets foot onto the course. It was no different on day one at The Renaissance as throngs of fans lined the fairways in East Lothian to catch a glimpse of the superstar in action.
Glorious sunshine bathed the venue and the hot temperatures became too much for one gentleman who was struggling at the second tee as McIlroy and his group arrived at the area. Spotting the situation, McIlroy's security man went to join in helping the stricken individual who was toiling badly in the heat.
While the playing group, which also included Open champion Xander Schauffele and Norwegian hero Viktor Hovland, had to move on after their tee shots and up the fairway to continue their first round, the bodyguard made sure he stayed with the stricken spectator and continued to assist until the paramedics arrived onto the scene to take over.
It was a scene noted by many of the fans who were around the situation and praiseworthy of the actions with marshals further forward on the front nine are also understood to have acknowledged the consideration and efforts of McIlroy's main man.
Dawber is a man who goes about his business quietly as he works in the background with pictures of him scarce.
Thursday's baking temperatures are set to be eclipsed on Friday as day two of the championship roared into action at 7am. McIlroy, Schauffele and Hovland were again joined by an enormous early-morning crowd as they set off at 8.28am from the 10th tee to continue their attempts to lift the title.
Both the Northern Irishman and the American already have their names on the trophy having both won at Renaissance prior to Bob MacIntyre 12 months ago. Schauffele claimed his victory at the track in 2022, while McIlroy pipped MacIntyre to the trophy in 2023 with his electric finish to the tournament.
The tournament is a global event and a sell-out crowd of around 22,000 is expected to swarm the fairways on Saturday with mass attendances due for Sunday's final round, too.
McIlroy will then return home to Northern Ireland for The Open Championship at Royal Portrush with an astounding 278,000 set to attend the 153rd Championship.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Sportsworld Lottie Woad: Meet golf's newest rising star
Just a week after turning professional, Lottie Woad is favourite for the final major of the year - the AIG Women's Open at Royal Porthcawl. It is a startling rise for British golf's most exciting prospect. She arrived in Wales having been crowned Scottish Open champion a week earlier This, in the same month she ended her amateur career by winning the Irish Open and finished third at the Evian Championship, the most recent women's major. Photo: Lottie Woad of England poses with the trophy following victory of the ISPS HANDA Women's Scottish Open following the final round of the ISPS HANDA Women's Scottish Open 2025 at Dundonald Links Golf Course on July 27, 2025 in Troon, Scotland. (Credit: Getty Images)
Belfast Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
‘I was ready for a new challenge': Swedish shock as Belfast Giants add veteran winger to roster
Only four Swedish players have represented the club in its 25-year history, but Marcus Eriksson will become the fifth when he laces up the skates for the 2025/26 campaign having agreed a switch to the SSE Arena from Allsvenskan side Södertälje for the upcoming season. However, while Södertälje was where he finished last season, the Giants are effectively signing the Norrköping native directly from the Swedish Hockey League as he spent the majority of the season with their former Champions League opponents Skellefteå, dressing for 37 games in the top flight, scoring three goals and seven points. But while inking a player directly from the SHL is a surprise in itself – the last player the Giants did that with was Liam Reddox in 2019 – perhaps an even bigger surprise is the fact that they have brought in a player who will be 40-years-old when the season begins. Eriksson will celebrate entering his fourth decade on August 20, two days before the Giants' pre-season double-header with Stavanger Oilers, making him the fifth player to represent the club after his 40th birthday after Ed Courtenay, Rob Stewart, Ashley Tait and Petr Cech – although, notably, he is only the second to start the season in Belfast, with Courtenay the only other on that list not signed as mid-season injury help. Still, while his age perhaps might look like something of a surprise, it is hard to argue with the Swedish winger's body of work as he looks to follow in the footsteps of Grand Slam winner Henrik Eriksson, the last Scandinavian on the Giants' books in 2024, Johan Edjepalm, Fredrik Näsvall and Rickard Palmberg. In his 23-year career – signing in Belfast will extend it into 24 – Eriksson has spent 13 of them in the Allsvenskan and has only improved with age, becoming a cult hero with his hometown club Vita Hästen whom he spent 18 years with and led from the third-tier Ettan into the Allsvenskan in 2014 before finding prolific success in the second-tier. Besides a brief spell with Division 2 side Guts during Covid-19, after their promotion Eriksson spent the next nine years with Vita Hästen and smashed in 104 goals and 356 points for the White Horses, although his best was still to come when he agreed a move to Södertälje ahead of a 2023/24 season that, while disappointing from a team perspective, was a lucrative one for the winger. In 50 regular season games, Eriksson would fire in 20 goals and 59 points, putting up the most assists and points in the entire League on his way to being named the League's Most Valuable Player, and that would earn him his first SHL contract last season as he stepped up to Skellefteå, before returning to Södertälje just before the transfer deadline. The Giants will certainly hope that he continues to get better with age as he leaves Sweden for the first time in his career, although he already has had a small taster of the Elite League having faced the Sheffield Steelers in the Champions League last season – with a 3-2 defeat something he will be eager to right. 'I've enjoyed a long career in Sweden, but was ready for a new experience and challenge. I'm really excited to be joining the Giants, and to test myself in the Elite League. I'm looking forward to bringing my experience to the group and help the team compete for trophies this season,' said Eriksson. Giants head coach Adam Keefe added: 'Marcus is a player with great vision, experience, and professionalism. He's played at a high level in Sweden for a long time and will bring real creativity and intelligence to our offence, and he excels on the power play, which is such an important part of every game. We're excited to welcome him to Belfast.'
Rhyl Journal
6 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Ignore Trump and give Open to Turnberry urges Montgomerie
The US president bought the famous Scottish course in 2014 and The Open has stayed away since, with 2009 marking its last staging. Former R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said The Open would not return to Turnberry until Trump was out of politics and the focus would be solely on golf. However, his replacement, Mark Darbon, announced he has held talks with Trump's son, Eric, about the logistical challenges Turnberry has, rather than politics. There are also reports Trump has asked the UK government to step in and convince The R&A to take its prized event back to his course. Turnberry, famous for its picturesque coastline and iconic lighthouse, is renowned as one of the best courses in the world and is a fans and players' favourite. Colin Montgomerie playing at the Els Club in Vilamoura (Image: Andre Pires Santos) It was the scene of Tom Watson's famous win over Jack Nicklaus in the 1977 Open, dubbed the 'duel in the sun', and Watson's near-fairytale in 2009, when the then-59-year-old almost won but bogeyed the last hole and lost in a play-off to Stewart Cink. The Open have not yet announced the venue for the 2028 Open, which is set to be pushed back from its usual July slot due to the Olympics. And Scottish legend Montgomerie, 62, insists Turnberry would be the best choice. 'Let's hope that we can get it back there as soon as we can,' he said, speaking at the launch of Ernie Els' new golf club, Els Club Vilamoura. 'Because it definitely is the best course, and we should be seeing the best players on the best courses. 'It's a pity, isn't it, that Turnberry is not currently on the rota 'It's the best. We all accept it's the best course in Britain, [certainly the] best links course in Britain, and it's a shame, because of its standard, that it's not on the rota.' Montgomerie is not the only golf heavyweight to throw his name behind the campaign. American superstar Bryson DeChambeau, a fan of Trump's, said he is all for it. "It's one of the best golf courses in the world, and I'd love for it to be a part of the rotation,' he said. "Albeit I haven't played it, I've heard so many great things about it, and any time you get to play a special historical golf course like that, I think it's worthy of it, for sure." The R&A has pointed to the growth of The Open and Turnberry's lack of infrastructure as the reason for staying away. In 2009, 120,000 people attended Turnberry, compared to the 280,000 that visited Royal Portrush to see Scottie Scheffler win his fourth major title last week. R&A chief executive Darbon said: "We love the golf course - we've not taken it out of our pool of venues - but we have some big logistical issues there.' Montgomerie played a nine-hole exhibition to open the Els Club Vilamoura alongside four-time major winner Els and 2001 Open Champion David Duval. The Algarve course is a championship-standard 18-hole golf course that features a luxury clubhouse and signature amenities such as the 261 Bar, and was built on the redesigned Victoria course, which hosted the Portugal Masters from 2007 to 2022. It will host the new PGA Champions Tour event, the Portugal Invitational, after signing a five-year deal. The first edition of the event is set to be held between 31 July to 2 August 2026. Els said: 'Golf is in the pretty sweet spot at the moment and [creating this course] has been a really nice venture. We want the conditions to be absolutely perfect and for people to have a great experience and good food.' Montgomerie added: 'The golf course is superb, and the clubhouse is fantastic. It's not just a course for the present; it's a course for the future as well.' PGA TOUR Champions announces the Portugal Invitational to be held at The Els Club Vilamoura on course designed by Ernie Els. PGA TOUR Champions, Arrow Global Group, Turismo de Portugal, and Turismo de Algarve will deliver a five-year partnership and will debut the week of July 27, 2026, and will feature a field of 78 players. For more information visit
