Chris Evans was famously banned from the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship after winning the celebrity pro-am golf event in 2011, and has not been invited back since
Chris Evans at a previous celebrity golf tournament with Catherine Zeta-Jones(Image: Getty Images)
Radio presenter Chris Evans was famously barred from the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship after securing victory in the celebrity pro-am golf tournament.
The competition made a comeback in October this year, uniting professional golfers with amateur players, including Andy Murray and a host of celebrities, who compete as teams across three unique Scottish golf courses.
In 2011, Evans teamed up with professional golfer Nick Dougherty to clinch the title with an impressive 40-under-par performance.
However, doubts were cast over Evans’ 10 handicap after the duo recorded what remains the lowest ever score in the history of the competition.
Despite having scheduled time off from his radio programme to defend the trophy the following year, he discovered that he had been prohibited from participating, according to the Mirror, and has not played in the competition since.
“Sadly, I will not be defending my title this year,” Evans stated in 2012. “Why? It appears I’ve been banned for life. I could delve into why but frankly it’s all a bit tedious. Suffice to say, if we were children in the playground, the boy who owns the ball just took it home in a sulk because his team didn’t win.”
Broadcaster Chris Evans is a keen golfer
Evans had triumphed over a field featuring renowned golf enthusiasts including Michael Douglas, Samuel L Jackson and Hugh Grant. The 59 year old wasn’t completely surprised by the subsequent ban, having disclosed that concerns were voiced at the time.
“Along with congratulations, there were rumblings of dissent,” he said, according to TNT Sports.
“The gloaming was dark with talk of my handicap being too high for my ability.”
He continued: “It crossed my mind to set up an alternative tournament on the exact same dates. I think I’ll call it the Dung Hill Cup.”
Whilst Evans didn’t participate in last year’s prestigious pro-am, there was plenty of celebrity presence. The competition attracted Hollywood stars including Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, along with comedy legend Bill Murray.
Murray partned DP World Tour star Eddie Pepperell at the Alfred Dunhill Links Pro-Am in October(Image: Warren Little/Getty Images)
Musical performers included American rock star Huey Lewis and Tom Chaplin, lead singer of Keane. Several sporting legends also appeared on the links courses.
Tennis star Murray, who harbours ambitions of one day qualifying for The Open, was paired with English golfer Eddie Pepperell. The duo posted a total of -23 after three rounds of the course.
From the 168 teams, Murray and Pepperell finished well up the leaderboard, claiming a joint-18th-place finish which they shared seven ways, including with two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson and his wife Angie. However, the Scotsman wasn’t the top-ranking celebrity, with his namesake and Ghostbusters actor Bill Murray finishing in joint-15th alongside pro partner Jordan Smith.
In joint-seventh was former South Africa rugby captain Morne Du Plessis, who finished on -26 with partner Yurav Premlall, whilst Wall Street star Douglas ended up joint-fifth on -27 with partner John Parry. Sharing fifth place with Douglas was Piers Morgan, who has a handicap of 16, but also finished on -27 alongside professional partner Matthew Jordan.
The team competition was, however, clinched by Ireland’s Cian Foley – the son-in-law of Irish racehorse owner and businessman JP McManus – who scored -33 alongside Australian professional Harrison Crowe.