Tournament: Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
Race to Dubai: Tournament 39 of 44
Back 9: Tournament 6 of 9
Venue: Old Course St Andrews, Carnoustie Golf Links, Kingsbarns Golf Links
Prize Fund: US$5,000,000
Hashtag: #dunhilllinks #DPWT
Tournament preview
Matt Fitzpatrick is relishing the opportunity to tee it up alongside his mum Susan as the duo bid to defend their Alfred Dunhill Links Championship crown in Scotland this week.
The Englishman completed the double at the famed championship last year, securing both individual and team honours as the event was reduced to 54 holes due to adverse weather.
The mother-son duo will attempt to defend both titles this year as an impressive field of professionals and amateurs prepare to take on St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns over the next few days.
It is not only the Fitzpatricks for whom it is a family affair, with Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre teaming up with dad Dougie – who caddied for the 28-year-old in his RBC Canadian Open win earlier this year – Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy joined by dad Gerry, while Tyrrell Hatton will play alongside his father, Jeff.
Scotland’s MacIntyre, who secured an emotional victory at the Genesis Scottish Open earlier this year, is joined by his dad as they write another chapter in their remarkable golfing journey. At this event 11 years ago, Dougie caddied for his then amateur 17-year-old son as he finished fifth in the team event alongside Eduardo de la Riva.
American Billy Horschel will make his first start since claiming his second BMW PGA Championship last month. The 37-year-old triumphed in a thrilling two-hole play-off at Wentworth Club, sinking a long eagle putt to defeat McIlroy after South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence had bowed out on the first extra hole.
The 2014 FedExCup champion, who finished in a tie for tenth here last year, returns to Scotland after securing a career-best Major finish in The Open at Royal Troon in July, when he finished in a tie for second place.
Stars from the worlds of film, music and sport are amongst the amateurs teeing it up in the Team Championship, including Hollywood actors Michael Douglas, Andy Garcia, Bill Murray and Kathryn Newton, and musicians including Keane’s Tom Chaplin, Linkin Park’s Dave Farrell, Mike Rutherford of Genesis and Mike and the Mechanics, Huey Lewis and Bon Jovi’s Tico Torres
Sports stars include former Real Madrid and Wales footballer Gareth Bale, cricketers Jimmy Anderson, Michael Vaughan and Kevin Pietersen, record-breaking Olympic rower Sir Steve Redgrave, and 11-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater.
Player quotes
Matt Fitzpatrick: It’s obviously lovely to be back. The weather’s nice, which is always a good start. After last year, it was an amazing week, so it’s nice to give it another go this year.
That was more important for me to be honest (playing with his mum). I said that at start of the week, I was here to focus on the team competition and do well. I played well myself, that was a nice added bonus. She’s been looking forward to it for a while, I think, and obviously now it’s here, it’s always more exciting.
The picture (from the Swilcan Bridge last year) is the background on my phone. It means a lot. It was a bizarre week– very heavy weather. Two days off over the weekend is always a little bit odd. So to get to a Monday finish, get it over the line, obviously a great week with my mum, nothing better.
It would be special (to win back-to-back). But got to play four days this year, not just three. We’ll see how it goes. Just excitement, to be back playing, hopefully have good weather and a good week.
I’ve became a little bit shorter off the tee. Not hitting my irons as well this year. Multiple things. Changed a lot of clubs this year, which is very unusual for me. Changed irons. Changed shafts. Changed woods. Did a little bit of everything. That doesn’t help. Technically, had a few issues that we think that we found, or I say found, not solved yet but we found the answer. I definitely feel like we’re on a better track than we were.
Robert MacIntyre: This was the first professional event I played and obviously I was the amateur playing with the pro and he (dad Dougie) caddied for me. It’s just little things like that that make this week more special.
Obviously winning in Canada with him on the bag, it’s going to be a memory that’s just hard to beat. I just think when you actually move back from the game of golf and go back to Oban and why I do certain things, it’s to see family and obviously my family will come down later in the week it’s gonna be cool.
St Andrews is so picturesque and so meaningful due to being the Home of Golf. For me, though, it’s not just about the golf. It’s the town. We used to come here as a family in December with the dogs, renting a house somewhere towards Crail and it’s just a special feeling walking around the town. It’s lively but not too lively. I just love coming here with the family and chilling out.
As a country, we’ve got so much to offer within golf. It’s the Home of Golf, yes, but we’ve got so many different courses and not just at the top end as we have so many hidden gems.
It would be unbelievable (to win the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship). It would be special. But there are so many good players here this week, there are so many factors to it. Look at the weather today, the wind’s a completely different direction to what it will be on Sunday afternoon. So, let’s just go out there, play hard, fight hard, enjoy it with my dad and see where we end up.
Billy Horschel: I think this last win, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth two weeks ago may be one of the most satisfying, most memorable ones I’m going to have in my career at this point. To do it in a playoff against Thriston Lawrence and Rory McIlroy, as I said I think Rory is the greatest player of my generation, and to be able to go head-to-head with him in a playoff and come out victorious is pretty special.
I’ve always enjoyed links golf. I’ve always enjoyed the natural imagination and the way the game can be played differently every day based off the conditions and based off the golf course.
So, I’ve just enjoyed it, and the more I’ve come over here to play, the more I want to play more links-style course. I told people, if I had to play any course the rest of my career, it would be a links-style golf course, just because of the variety of shots and the way everything can be different on a day-to-day basis, that’s what I would want to do.
It is a beautiful trophy. To win any tournament here at the Home of Golf is special. To sit on that bridge with the trophy is something that I’ve never imagined, honestly, to tell you the truth. It would be a moment that I’ll remember for the rest of my life because there’s not many opportunities you get to play the Home of Golf, the Old Course, and there’s not many opportunities you get a chance to win a trophy and say you’ve won at the Old Course.
