Major Month on the EuroDov Tour kicked off at Kirkcaldy Golf Club with the exclusive Invitational tournament.

This unique event, requiring pre-qualification or past champion status, brought together a field of the Tour's finest. While the focus ultimately fell on Paul Gowens' triumphant win, the experience for all the competitors, particularly those making their debut or grappling with the challenges of a new course, offered a fascinating glimpse into the pressure and dynamics of a Major championship.

For many, it was their first taste of the Invitational atmosphere. Scott Gowens described it as "challenging", while Ally Greenshields, a last-minute replacement, "thoroughly enjoyed the set up and getting to play with the best the tour has to offer". Richard Mair, playing his third consecutive Invitational, found the course "quite tricky" but still enjoyed the day.

The host venue, Kirkcaldy Golf Club, was also making its debut for the tournament. Opinions on the course were mixed but consistently highlighted its difficulty. Richard Mair called it "quite unique" and admitted he "never knew that course existed until now". Scott Gowens felt it was "very unforgiving and tight in places", a sentiment echoed by Ally Greenshields who initially found the front nine "fiddly, horrible" with " thick rough and slow green". The greens, in particular, seemed to be a challenge, with both Scott Gowens and Richard Mair finding them "extremely heavy" and struggling to "find the pace" or "get to grips with them". Despite these difficulties, Greenshields noted they "enjoyed our afternoon round a bit more knowing the course".

While conditions were largely seen as perfect, the wind did start to play a part in the afternoon. Scott Gowens noted the wind "definitely changed from the morning" but felt it couldn't be used as "an excuse" for his performance. Richard Mair thought the course "wasn’t too badly affected by the wind," simply being glad it "stayed nice and dry which was the main thing".

The leaderboard proved to be "really bunched", which surprised some but not others like Richard Mair, who attributed it to many players experiencing the course for the first time and the overall "quality" of the field.

The tight competition meant there were "battles to be had across the leaderboard," some "for silverware and some for pride," which "kept plenty interest throughout!" according to Ally Greenshields.

This competitive field had a tangible effect on players. Scott Gowens felt he "really had to get after it in those first few holes" in the afternoon, perhaps "shot myself in the foot and played myself out the tournament early doors in round 2". Richard Mair, however, stated he "didn’t pay attention to it to be honest," feeling he was "well out of contention”.

After the morning round, Paul Gowens and Daniel Peck were surprisingly tied for the lead. Scott Gowens acknowledged that both are "very talented players and on their day can compete with the very best," calling it a "strong showing from both of them".

Richard Mair fully expected Paul Gowens to be at the top, while viewing Peck as "a bit of a dark horse this year" who is still getting used to "his new clubs". Scott Gowens felt he gave a "good account of myself as a debutant in the invitational" in the morning round.

The afternoon session saw plenty of movement on the leaderboard. Scott Gowens commented the "less said about the afternoon the better", but noted that Paul Gowens, Stuart Sutherland, and Richard Mair all managed to shoot under par in the afternoon. Richard Mair believed his better afternoon score was due to having "a better idea where I could plot my way around" after having played the course once. He also jokingly added that having "2 pints at lunchtime took the edge off the hangover" might have helped, "taking a leaf out the John Daly playbook".

Ally Greenshields also cited Sutherland being "reinvigorated after a lunch time pint". Scott Gowens observed that Sutherland "put a few good stretches of holes together" and Mair "really showed great iron play and short game" in the afternoon. As for the champion, Scott Gowens felt it "seemed all too familiar that Gowens just kept plugging away as he has done so many times in the past", while Ally Greenshields said Gowens performance was "to be expected" as he was "caddied round and kept fresh".

When Paul Gowens sealed his victory with a birdie on the 18th, fellow competitors offered their congratulations. Scott Gowens expressed happiness, saying Paul is "starting to show the player he was a few years ago again" and was "very happy to see him seal a first major win". Ally Greenshields called it a "good win for one of the Tours good guys!" Richard Mair, the runner-up, also offered praise, stating it was "brilliant to have Sexy Uncle Paul back playing at this level," and was "delighted he got the win, well done S.U.P!"

Despite the challenges faced, the tournament has clearly ignited a desire to return. When asked about qualifying for 2026, Scott Gowens, having had a slow start to his season, hopes to "pick up form...make a good showing at Kinross in July and redeem myself next year!" Richard Mair's concise response spoke volumes: "I’m ready for more pain. Roll on 2026".

The 2025 Invitational at Kirkcaldy, marked by challenging conditions and a tight finish, provided not just a Major champion but also a compelling narrative of competitive golf from the players' perspectives, setting the stage for future battles on the EuroDov Tour.