Seeing Stars at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 2016


Ernie Els and Charl Schwartzel with their caddies on Carnoustie Championship during the 2013 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images

From October 6-9, a dazzling cast of stars will take the the fairways at St Andrews Old Course, Carnoustie Championship and Kingsbarns for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

With a prize fund of US $5 million, the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship incorporates an individual professional tournament for the world’s leading golfers and a team championship in which the professionals are paired with the amateur golfers which creates a unique atmosphere.

Hollywood Stars

Hollywood stars Jamie Dornan, Andy Garcia, Matthew Goode, Hugh Grant, Greg Kinnear and Kyle MacLachlan will be sharing the fairways with a world-class field of golf professionals in the prestigious Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, which raises substantial funds for charity each year.

Returning to the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship will be music giants Ronan Keating, Huey Lewis and Bon Jovi’s Tico Torres, while Linkin Park’s David Farrell and former Westlife lead singer Brian McFadden are playing for the first time.

Sporting Legends

There are also many great sporting legends in the field, including footballers Michael Ballack, winner of the Team Championship last year, Luis Figo and Ruud Gullit, cricketers Sir Ian Botham, Michael Vaughan, Shane Warne, Kevin Pietersen, Mark Boucher and Jacques Kallis, Olympic rowing legend Sir Steve Redgrave and record-breaking jump jockey A.P. McCoy.

Major Champions

This year, the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship includes current Masters champion Danny Willett and fellow members of the European Ryder Cup team Rafa Cabrera Bello, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Martin Kaymer, Thomas Pieters and Lee Westwood, plus captain Darren Clarke. Other Major Champions in the field include Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington, Louis Oosthuizen, Graeme McDowell, Paul Lawrie, Trevor Immelman, Angel Cabrera and Y.E.Yang.

Also playing are former winner and world No.13 Branden Grace, leading Irish golfer Shane Lowry, Andrew Johnston (now universally known as ‘Beef’), and former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley.

The Draw

The draw for the Championship has thrown up some fascinating pairings. Padraig Harrington & J.P.McManus boast the most successful partnership in the history of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship but on this occasion, Ireland’s three-time Major Championship winner has been paired with J.P.’s son Kieran McManus.

Last year’s team championship winner, former German footballer Michael Ballack, partners Swedish pro Niclas Fasth, while young Ryder Cup star Matthew Fitzpatrick teams up with Barcelona and Real Madrid legend Luis Figo. There are some intriguing Hollywood pairings: Jamie Dornan & Tyrrell Hatton; Andy Garcia & Gregory Bourdy; Matthew Goode & Edoardo Molinari; Hugh Grant & David Howell; Greg Kinnear & Trevor Immelman; and Kyle MacLachlan & Paul McGinley.

Admission is free for all spectators over the first three days with final day tickets for Sunday, October 9 available to purchase at the entrance gates for £20 (Seniors £15) or in advance by clicking here.

 


The Alfred Dunhill Links Foundation

The Alfred Dunhill Links Foundation was founded in 2011 and is committed to developing young amateur golfers in Scotland and South Africa and also supports the University of St Andrews and the St Andrews Pilgrim Foundation, which refurbishes and preserves historical monuments in the town.