Donald Trump’s recent visit to Scotland sparked plenty of controversy, but his newly opened course is still finding itself in the headlines for the wrong reasons.
English golfer Sam Bairstow, one of the favourites for the tournament, and Scotland’s Calum Hill found themselves disqualified from the 2025 Nexo Championship at Trump International Golf Links after costly scorecard errors.
At the conclusion of Bairstow’s first round it was discovered that the 26-year-old carded an opening round of 75 (+3 par) and not the 73 (+1) he had believed he had scored.
Having handed in and signed for the lower score in the scorer’s tent, he was immediately disqualified as per DP World Tour rules.
In a totally separate incident Hill also found himself leaving Trump’s new course sooner than he’d hoped, after failing to hole out on the eighth hole in his second round. A move that also saw him disqualified from the tournament.
Bairstow’s and Hill’s disqualifications resulted in neither collecting any points for the season-long Race to Dubai and possibly dropping down the table.
How was Bairstow disqualified from the Nexo Championship?
Left-hander Bairstow made his critical mistake on the par-4 14th hole. He recorded a score of five, when in reality, he had taken seven strokes to complete the hole.
After failing to locate his original tee shot, after missing the fairway, Bairstow played a provisional ball. He continued on and eventually tapped in, believing he had made a bogey five. However, he had seemingly forgetting his penalty stroke which should have been a triple bogey.
Ironically, neither of his two playing partners noticed the discrepancy and Bairstow signed an incorrect scorecard and was disqualified from the Nexo Championship after just one round.
Hill’s tournament also ends abruptly
Hill arrived at Trump International Golf Links aiming to build on his solid recent form and pursue a second victory of the season on home soil, but it didn’t go to plan from the off.
The Scotsman carded a disappointing four-over-par 76 on Thursday, leaving himself needing a strong second round to have any hope of making the cut.
However, the second round didn’t begin well for the 30-year-old. After nine holes on Friday, he sat at +6 for the tournament and knew he’d need to shoot at least three-under on his back nine to avoid an early exit.
On the 8th hole, his 17th of the day, Hill missed a nine-foot putt and several short follow-up attempts. He then simply decided he’d had enough and scooped up the ball without finishing the hole – an automatic disqualification under golfing rules.
Before this week’s DP Tour tournament in Aberdeenshire, Hill had spoken about his ‘strop’ at the Scottish Open.
“The Scottish Open was very odd,” said Hill. “Everything took a bounce and ended up on a downslope. It was just one of those where the day just gets away from you. I was having a bit of a strop.”
When asked about how Hill dealt with frustration, he said: “That’s a question for Miranda (his wife), I’m not sure I am very good at being self observant.”
Meanwhile, DP World Tour professional David Micheluzzi was full of praise for Trump’s new course after posting the first professional round on it at four under par.
“The New Course at Trump International Golf Links was an absolute treat,” he said.
“It had everything you could think of, and it was a pleasure to play. The landscaping of the holes was incredible and to have the chance to play it was very cool.”
READ MORE: Inside Donald Trump’s golf bag in Scotland as he launches new MacLeod Course
