Inside the Dunvegan: St. Andrews bar owner tells amazing stories about Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer
Welcome to The Dunvegan Hotel in St. Andrews, arguably the most famous golf pub and 19th hole in the world. Just 112 yards from the 18th green at The Old Course at St. Andrews, the Dunvegan has been the unofficial bar/restaurant of St. Andrews for decades.
Recently, during the 150th Open Championship, GolfWRX stopped in to say hello, taste a pint of Dunvegan beer, eat fish and chips (I actually ate the Steak Pie, which was delicious), and get a full tour of the historical drinking spot.
While we were there, longtime owners Sheena and Jack Willoughby were gracious enough to sit down with me and tell stories about the bar’s history, some of its famous patrons (like Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Arnold Palmer and many others), and tell some untold stories from inside the Dunvegan.
If you’ve ever been to the Dunvegan, then you know the walls are covered in photographs and memorabilia that tell stories about the bar’s history. If you’ve never been there, then hopefully the video helps you live vicariously, as Sheena and Jack took the time to make some of the stories come to life in our recent tour and sit down.
My personal favorite story, as highlighted in our recent TikTok video below, Rory McIlroy used to come into the Dunvegan in his younger days, where he unsuccessfully tried to go “incognito,” despite his trademark bushy black curls.
@golfwrx Sheena Willoughby from The Dunvegan Hotel in St Andrews (golf’s most famous pub) tells a great story of when Rory McIlroy used to come into the bar back in the day with his bushy black curls and act incognito ? ? WAY more stories about Tiger, John Daly and Arnold Palmer on our GolfWRX YouTube page #cheers #rory #theopen #dunvegan #beers #golf #golftiktok #rorymcilroy #standrews ? original sound – golfwrx
Enjoy our full video from inside The Dunvegan in St. Andrews at the top of the page!
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19th Hole
“Is it a Titleist?” – Jerry Seinfeld shares never-before-heard details of iconic scene
On Thursday, legendary comedian Jerry Seinfeld joined the Rich Eisen Show and shared an awesome story from a “Seinfeld” episode titled “The Marine Biologist.”
In the episode, a golf ball goes into the blow hole of a whale. According to Seinfeld, that was never in the episode’s script.
Seinfeld recalls saying the night before the filming of the episode, “What if what puts the whale in distress is Kramer’s golf ball?”
“He’s hitting golf balls at the beach. George is at the beach with a girl, we haven’t connected them!”
“We write that speech the night before at two o’clock in the morning…The sea was angry that day my friend.”
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Kramer finishes the iconic scene by asking “Is it a Titleist?” Seinfeld told Eisen the show sought Titleist’s permission to mention its name, saying the ball had to be a Titleist. Fortunately for lovers of the iconic show, the company agreed.
If (somehow) you’re unfamiliar with the scene, check it out below.
More from the 19th Hole
- Phil Mickelson drops big retirement hint; Says LIV will grow the game “on a much more global basis”
- 2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
- Tiger explains why golf has “negative connotations” for daughter Sam
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19th Hole
Phil Mickelson drops big retirement hint; Says LIV will grow the game ‘on a much more global basis’
While speaking with Bloomberg, golf legend Phil Mickelson acknowledged that he is inching close towards retirement.
“I’m 53 now,” Phil said, “and my career, you know, it’s — if I’m being truthful, it’s on — it’s — it’s — I’m a — it’s towards its end.”
Mickelson added that one of his focuses now is helping other young players.
“Now, I would like to help others find the same enjoyment and fulfillment that the game has provided me. I’d like them to experience that as well.”
The six-time major champion credited LIV with reaching new markets in golf to help it grow.
“I think that’s exciting for everyone involved in the game because we are going to reach markets that we didn’t reach before. I think it’s going to inspire more golf courses, inspire more manufacturers selling clubs and equipment, but also inspiring young kids to try to play golf professionally. I just see that the game of golf is going to grow on a much more global basis because of the excitement and the presence that LIV Golf has.”
Mickelson is playing at this week’s LIV Singapore and shot a first round 72 (+1).
More from the 19th Hole
- The wild reason why Mark Wahlberg was initially denied entry to an Australian golf club
- 2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
- Edoardo Molinari reveals the latest PGA Tour golfer to turn down ‘good offer’ from LIV Golf
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19th Hole
Tiger explains why golf has ‘negative connotations’ for daughter Sam
While Tiger Woods’ son, Charlie, has certainly inherited his father’s love for golf, his daughter, Sam, has not.
On Wednesday, Tiger made an appearance on The Today Show with Carson Daly and explained his daughter’s relationship with golf.
“Golf has negative connotations for her. When she was growing up, golf took daddy away from her. I had to pack, I had to leave, and I was gone for weeks. So, there were negative connotations to it.
“We developed our own relationship and our own rapport outside of golf. We do things that doesn’t involve golf. Meanwhile, my son and I, everything we do is golf related.”
The nine-minute interview touches on plenty of other subjects, such as Tiger’s relationship with his late father, Earl.
It’s arguably the most open we’ve seen the 15-time major champion in an interview and is most definitely worth watching.
Tiger Woods sits down with Carson Daly to talk about golf, growing up in Southern California, his father and his new apparel line, Sun Day Red. pic.twitter.com/2TFbSNxzxq
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) May 1, 2024
More from the 19th Hole
- The wild reason why Mark Wahlberg was initially denied entry to an Australian golf club
- 2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
- Edoardo Molinari reveals the latest PGA Tour golfer to turn down ‘good offer’ from LIV Golf
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