GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - MAY 17: Celtic Chairman Peter Lawwell, Majority Shareholder Dermot Desmond, and Chief Executive Officer Michael Nicholson (L-R) during a William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and St Mirren at Celtic Park, on May 17, 2025, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Alan Harvey/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Dermot Desmond’s third round at the Dunhill Cup at St Andrews was halted by tennis ball protests this afternoon.
The Celtic Fans Collective released a video of the incident.
The wealthy Irish businessman is the biggest individual shareholder at Celtic with unrest growing among fans.
While Bodo Glimt and Club Brugge expand and grow through Champions League participation Celtic stagnate.
Over the last 13 years Celtic have won five matches in the Champions League, four of them under Brendan Rodgers.
A year ago Rodgers was verbally attacked in an unprecedented statement issued by Desmond on the Celtic website.
Since then Celtic have been teetering towards chaos but steadied by the interim appointments of Martin O’Neill.
Brilliant, we need to keep making him uncomfortable until he walks.
— Seb Leonard ??? (@sebleonard93) October 3, 2026
In the 25 year run of the tournament Desmond Senior has taken part 24 times.
In contrast Desmond’s last appearance at the Celtic AGM was in 2006. Last year the AGM was ended during an address to anti-establishment fans by Ross Desmond.
Recently the Dunhill Cup has become a family outing with sons Ross, Dery and Brett taking part this year.
After two rounds Dermot was sitting in joint 135th place, Ross and Dery were joint 145th in a field of 164.
Brett was flying the flag in joint second place. The top 20 amateurs take part in the final round on Sunday at St Andrews.
Why not golf balls? Surely that would cause even more disruption, if that’s your intention.
Says one of the modern day keyboard warriors who say the most and do the least