Global stars from the world of entertainment are among the celebrity amateurs who will be playing along the leading lights from the DP World Tour in next week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.
Famous actors Catherine Zeta-Jones, Andy Garcia, Kathryn Newton and Matthew Goode will be teaming up with a world-class field of golf pro’s in the prestigious event to be played over three of the greatest Links courses: the Old Course St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.
They will be joining a super group of rock giants, past and present: hugely popular singer-songwriter Ronan Keating, Keane’s Tom Chaplin, Linkin Park’s Dave Farrell and Mike Rutherford of Genesis and Mike and the Mechanics, will be sharing the fairways with cult US rock legends Huey Lewis and Bon Jovi’s Tico Torres.
This will be the first time Catherine Zeta-Jones has played in the Alfred Dunhill Links, although she was an enthusiastic supporter in 2005 when her husband Michael Douglas teamed up with Colin Montgomerie to play in the Team Championship.
She said: “I really enjoyed being at the Championship all those years ago and I was able to play a round on the practice days. The atmosphere was fantastic and the galleries were great and really encouraged me. Now, to be playing in the Dunhill Links Championship proper is a dream come true. I’m really looking forward to it.”
With a prize fund of $5 million, the Championship incorporates two separate competitions – an Individual Professional event for the world’s leading golfers and the Team Championship in which the professionals are paired with amateur golfers, creating a unique atmosphere.
Defending champion Ryan Fox will be the man to watch again after his wonderful win in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, but 2022 US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick and 2019 Alfred Dunhill Links Team Champion Tommy Fleetwood will be trying to stop him.
Ireland’s Padraig Harrington, now a star of the senior circuit, will be looking for a record third title after winning in 2002 and 2006, while popular Billy Horschel and Matt Kuchar will be hoping to become the first American winner.
There has not been a Scottish success since Colin Montgomerie in 2005 and as ever there will be a strong local challenge led by Bob MacIntyre, the top Scot in the world rankings, who came so close in July to winning the Genesis Scottish Open, and Connor Syme, who finished tied for tenth in the BMW PGA behind Fox.
There will be a special welcome at St Andrews for David Howell who will be enjoying a double celebration. Not only is it the tenth anniversary of his famous 2013 Alfred Dunhill Links victory, but he will be creating a new record for the number of appearances in European / DP World Tour events. Last week’s French Open was his 721st event, equalling Miguel Angel Jimenez’s record, which means he will create a new record at the Alfred Dunhill Links.
The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is a celebration of Links golf. This is the 22nd staging of the event which will take place from October 5 – 8.
For the first three days entry is free. Only tickets for the final day, Sunday, October 8, on the Old Course, need to be purchased. There will be no ticket sales on the gate, tickets can be purchased in advance via www.alfreddunhilllinks.com/tickets/