It was billed as one of the tightest fields of the season. A stacked leaderboard, a course known for mid-round carnage, and a count-back finale. Yet when the dust settled at the 2025 King’s Cup, it was Alan Duncan — the older of the Duncan brothers — who stood alone at the summit, trophy in hand and grin wide enough to stretch from the 1st tee to the 18th green.

This win, coming after his triumphs in the Senior Championship and Bruce Shield earlier in the month, cements July 2025 as the most successful run of Duncan’s decorated career. And as he shared with journalists in the post-round interview area, there’s more to his resurgence than just crisp iron play and timely birdies.
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"Close to the Peak of My Game"

"Thank you," Duncan began when asked about his King’s Cup win. "Yes, I feel like I am definitely playing close to the peak of my game. It’s been helped with some coaching recently, and I am beginning to think Kev [Brannan] is my lucky charm."

While most players struggle to find their form in their senior years, Duncan is defying the curve. With a calm presence and a 3-wood he now refers to as his "weapon of choice," he’s not only competing — he’s winning.
"The best decision I made all day was leaving the driver in the car," he said. "My 3-wood was going great."
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Playing the Mind Games

Alan's route to victory wasn’t just about physical execution — it was about psychological warfare. With the leaderboard tightly packed and his younger brother Denis ahead of him late in the round, Alan admitted to stirring the pot a little.

"By god it was close, wasn’t it? To be fair, I had no idea of the score until after the 17th. Then I saw how tight it was. When I realised my little brother was ahead of me, I made sure to let him know the standings by telling him it was his to lose — a little bit of mind games never hurt anyone."
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Amen Corner: 4444 and Out

Canmore’s notorious stretch from 10 through 13 — dubbed "Amen Corner" — has ruined many a scorecard. But Alan Duncan walked away unscathed.

"My only focus was to get drives in play and be happy with 4444 — which I achieved, so I was really happy. That really helped."

Stuart Allan, who also fared well through Amen Corner, praised Duncan’s execution: "I did manage to par the 13th which always gains strokes on the field. Alan getting through with four straight pars? That’s elite."

Meanwhile, others weren’t as fortunate. David McColgan, who started the stretch at 2-under, walked off the 13th at 3-over. "It felt like I’d gone ten rounds with Tyson," he said.

Denis Duncan also cited the 11th as pivotal: "I was on a good run of form, but I slipped on my second shot and pulled it into the danger on the left. You could say this cost me."
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Seve Magic and Mistake Management

Despite his calm demeanor, Alan’s round wasn’t without drama. A couple of errant drives on the back nine forced him to channel his inner Seve Ballesteros.

"To be fair, I made a few mistakes today. On 14 and 16 I hit poor drives behind trees. But I hit two Seve-like recoveries, especially on the 16th — a miracle shot."

That blend of risk control and creative recovery has defined his month.

"There were some tough pin positions," he added. "But I just focused on hitting the centre of the green and taking two putts."
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Brotherly Banter

Asked about the final duel with Denis, Alan lit up.

"My god, how does it feel to come out on top against my bro? Well, as Tony the Tiger would say: It was GREAT!"

He continued with a cheeky grin: "To be fair to Denis, he is due a win. But never against his big brother."
As for strategy? "When me and Denis go against each other, the only strategy I have is for him to be behind me all the time."

And yes, the rivalry is real: "There’s always been rivalry between us — since the day Mr Spoiled Brat was born."
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The Order of Merit? "Not Thinking About It"

Surprisingly, Alan isn’t tracking the standings.

"Honestly, I’m not thinking about Order of Merit. I’m just happy with some good golf recently."
That modesty hasn’t stopped others from speculating.

"Alan is in great form at the moment," said Scott Gowens. "His game seems to be in a good place, and it all seems to be coming together at the right time."

Stuart Allan added: "He’s definitely in a purple patch. Let’s hope it continues into the RyDov Cup."
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The Mental Edge

What’s behind the turnaround?

"I’ve really been focusing on the mental side of my game," Alan explained. "Keeping focused and not letting bad breaks affect my mood. Also keeping the ball in play off the tee. When I do that, I can challenge anybody out here on Tour."
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"This One is the Best"

When asked where the King’s Cup ranks among his career achievements, Alan didn’t hesitate.

"Honestly, this is probably my best win on Tour. The quality from everyone is great and only getting better each event. Was even sweeter to beat Duncan the younger too."
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Looking Ahead

With two events remaining, and momentum firmly on his side, Alan Duncan’s name is now one to watch not just for the RyDov Cup, but for a late-season Order of Merit charge.

"I’m just taking it one round at a time," he said, finishing his post-round chat with a handshake and a smile. "But it’s nice when the golf’s this good."

As Canmore fades into memory and Lochgelly and Craigielaw loom on the horizon, one thing is clear: Alan Duncan isn’t done yet. And no matter who’s chasing — family or not — he’ll be ready.