Leading Scots golfer Robert MacIntyre’s 2025 Old Course victory has been immortalised in a special portrait commissioned by St Andrews Links Trust ahead of the defence of his Alfred Dunhill Links Championship crown.
The world number 19 sealed victory on home soil last year to record his sixth career win, following in the footsteps of legends of the game to win at the Home of Golf.
And to commemorate his triumph, MacIntyre was this week presented with a unique painting by acclaimed portrait artist John Kelly, who has previously been commissioned to create a special Tiger Woods portrait to mark the 15-time Major Champion’s 50th birthday.
Kelly, who is also part of the Links Trust team welcoming golfers on the world-famous Old Course, presented MacIntyre with the portrait at the Home of Golf Hub in St Andrews where he operates as an artist in residence.
MacIntyre said: “This is a really special gift to commemorate my win here last year. Any time you win is brilliant but to do so on home soil and here on the Old Course is extra special. To get something to remember it, and something so unique as the painting, is really nice.
“John has done an incredible job with the painting. I don’t know quite where it’s going to go yet, maybe in the golf studio, but it’s definitely going to go somewhere.”
Kelly has been a professional artist for more than 20 years and combines his passion for golf by offering unique portraits to visiting golfers coming to play the Old Course. His previous commissions include golfing great Tiger Woods while his portrait of Old Tom Morris proudly hangs in the Links Clubhouse adjacent to the Old Course.
Kelly said: “I was really pleased to be asked by the Links Trust to create the portrait for Bob to celebrate his win here last year. Working on the Old Course I see every day how much the Home of Golf means to people so to be able to capture and commemorate that is really special.
“I love the feeling of presenting something to someone which represents an important moment in their life and I’m really happy Bob was so pleased with his portrait.”
In addition to his role at the Links Trust, Kelly also spends time working in the new Home of Golf Hub. Sitting on Market Street in the heart of St Andrews, the Hub is a retail and community space which tells the story of the Home of Golf and the Links Trust, which serves to maintain and preserve the Links for current and future generations.
As well as offering a portrait service for visiting golfers, Kelly also has plans to deliver tutorials for budding artists in the Hub
Andrew Thomson, Director of St Andrews Experience at St Andrews Links Trust said: “We’re delighted to have an artist of John’s reputation and calibre supporting our activities in the Home of Golf Hub. His ability to create something unique helps add to the special experience of visiting St Andrews and we were pleased to be able to be able to share this with Bob following his win here last year.”
St Andrews Links Trust https://www.standrews.com/
