Two of this year’s Major Championship winners, Martin Kaymer and Graeme McDowell, will be among the world class field of professionals competing in the 10th Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Northern Ireland’s McDowell, winner of the US Open after a superb performance at Pebble Beach, will be trying to go one better than he did in 2004 when he lost in a sudden death play-off on the Old Course to Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher.
German Kaymer, fresh from his dramatic play-off victory over American Bubba Watson at Whistling Straits in the US PGA Championship, will be joining them for the Championship to be held from October 7-10.
McDowell, 31, said: “I love playing links courses so this championship is one of my favourites. The US Open win at Pebble Beach has made this a memorable year, and victory on the Old Course in the Alfred Dunhill Links would make it even more special.”
The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, which celebrates links golf at its finest, is played over three of the world’s best known and respected links courses – the Old Course at St Andrews, the Championship Course at Carnoustie and the highly regarded Kingsbarns Golf Links. Defending champion is England’s Simon Dyson.
Over the years the Championship has attracted a strong international field including: Lee Westwood, current world No 3; Rory McIlroy, world No 7; Ernie Els, world No 8; Paul Casey, world No 9; Luke Donald, world No 10; Ian Poulter, world No 11; and major championship winners Padraig Harrington, Retief Goosen. Fred Couples and Trevor Immelman.
With a prize fund of US$5 million, the championship incorporates two separate competitions - an individual professional tournament for the world's leading golfers and a team event in which the professionals are paired with some of the most celebrated amateur golfers which creates a unique atmosphere.
Among the celebrities who took part last year were film and TV stars Hugh Grant, Greg Kinnear, George Lopez, Kyle MacLachlan, John O’Hurley and Aidan Quinn, and music legends Don Felder, co-writer of Hotel California from the Eagles, Huey Lewis and American country singer Clay Walker.
Four of Britain’s sporting knights – Sir Ian Botham, Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Matthew Pinsent and Sir Steve Redgrave - led a locker room full of sporting heroes, including Dutch football legends Johann Cruyff and Ruud Gullit, former England player Jamie Redknapp and Scottish star Alan Hansen. Cricketers Mark Nicholas and Michael Vaughan of England and Steve Waugh and Shane Warne of Australia also played.
The first Alfred Dunhill Links Championship was staged in 2001, but Alfred Dunhill’s support for golf at St Andrews, through the Alfred Dunhill Cup, an international team championship that took place from 1985 to 2000, goes back 26 years.
Entrance to the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship will be FREE at all three courses on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. A ticket price of £15 (concessionary £10) will be charged for the final day’s play over the Old Course on Sunday, October 10. Entry for under 16s and students is free. Tickets are available through the ticket hotline on 0870 010 9021 or at the entrance gates. There is free parking for spectators and a free shuttle bus service will be in operation between the courses on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
