Danny Willett is harbouring hopes of creating more memories on the Scottish links when he defends the title at this week’s 2022 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
The unique event on the schedule, which see professionals share the fairways alongside some of the world’s most celebrated amateur golfers, will once again see St Andrews’ Old Course, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns share hosting duties.
Willett faces stiff opposition if he is emulate Pádraig Harrington and Hatton and become a two-time champion but he is also eyeing team glory alongside amateur playing partner Jimmy Dunne.
“It's a special week,” he said. “I really wanted to be able to say that I won around here at the Home of Golf. To be able to do it last year and the way that we did, I played great all week. I have got nice memories.
“There is a great field again, among both pros and amateurs, and me and Jimmy are hoping to go one better in the team event this year.”
Rory McIlroy, who leads the DP World Tour Rankings in Partnership with Rolex, U.S. Open Champion Matt Fitzpatrick and BMW PGA Championship winner Shane Lowry are among the other headline names taking part this year.
“It's great to have guys who are vying for Ryder Cup points, World Ranking points,” added Willett.
“You know, when them guys pitch up, it adds to an event and it's just nice that, you know, within that, they then bring, obviously Rory is playing with his dad, Matt is playing with his mum.
“It just shows how special this week is and what it does for golf as a whole and kind of how much fun this week can be for the guys that are here. It's just a great week.”
Willett arrives in Scotland in good form after a runner-up finish in the PGA Tour’s season-opening Fortinet Championship earlier this month saw him make a good start in the Ryder Cup Qualification Process for the 2023 edition at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club.
After recent wins on Tour for fellow Team Europe hopefuls Robert MacIntyre and Guido Migliozzi, in Italy and France respectively, Willett is excited by the potential in the European ranks.
“You see the guys coming through, obviously Bobby Mac has been playing well for the last couple years now,” he said. “Guido's good. You've got the Højgaard twins.
"You have a lot of good players that are coming through, and you just hope that they can continue to do that all the way through. Hopefully they can get some good guidance. I know Thomas Bjørn speaks to the twins a lot and tries to help them along the way.
"Obviously I want to go back there to Rome and help the team, and this is obviously another big week in that journey.”
