Dunhill Links now a feature on European Tour

BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2006 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship | Preview | 03 Oct 2006

Despite its shaky start in 2001 and the possibility that it might only last one year as an event on the European Tour, the Dunhill Links Championship has developed into one of the most popular and lucrative (US$5 million) events outside of the US.

Initially established to replace the Dunhill Cup, the event had a bad start to its existence in 2001 when poor weather and a lack of local support had those behind the event questioning the concept but a decision to bring the tournament forward a couple of weeks for its second staging saw better weather and the crowds responded. So too did the European Tour players who warmed to the prospect of not only lining their pockets but rewarding their friends, business associates and, at times, families for their support by playing with them in the Pro-Am format.

Played over three different courses on the opening three days, the event returns to golf’s spiritual home of St Andrews for the final round where the leading sixty players who make the cut and the leading twenty pro am teams will compete.

St Andrews and Carnoustie are obviously two of Great Britian’s great courses and part of the Open Championship rota and the Kyle Phillips designed Kingbarns has received significant praise in its short life. The prospect of playing such a great collection of courses and with some of Europe’s great golfing elite attracts many of the world’s leading entertainment, sporting and business celebrities.

The Scottish crowd will also be given the chance to acknowledge their Ryder Cup heroes as ten of the European team are scheduled to play, with three of those having won the event in its five year history. Only Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia of the victorious 2006 Ryder Cup team are missing from this week’s line up.

Ernie Els seems to be getting closer to his first win of 2006. His 5th place finish last week at the Grove has him on the verge of success and he has played well enough at this event and at St Andrews over the years to be a factor.

Padraig Harrington won the tournament in 2002 and finished third last year. He has been close to his best in recent weeks and although, like Els, he has not won in 2006 he could well alter that this week.

Henrik Stenson won in Germany a month ago and seems to be back to where he was at the start of this year and when he finished third at this event last year. He remains as one of Europe’s greatest hopes to win a major in the near future and as such a win here would not be beyond him.

Ian Poulter finished in a share of third in 2004 in this event and the manner in which he is playing at present suggests he could well do better this week. He won by five shots in Switzerland three weeks ago and last week produced a great last round to finish in a share of second at the American Express event. That to me indicates that he is ready to win again on golf courses that seem to suit him.

In another time Vijay Singh would be the favourite here but he seems to have lost his way at present. He is the leading ranked player in the field but is well below his best currently.

As the leader of the European Order of Merit, Paul Casey arrives at St Andrews with some good close up form behind him but he was not all that impressive last week at The Grove. Perhaps surprisingly he has struggled with this format to some extent and that may be a factor that works against him this week.

Lee Westwood will be buoyed by his Ryder Cup success and as a previous winner of this event he has some sort of chance. His recent form is not to the same standard of those mentioned above but he does have a good record in this tournament.

Others who should be considered are Darren Clarke and the defending champion Colin Montgomerie. Montgomerie did not do well last week but he has often played well at the Dunhill in addition to his win.

The chances do not stop there and the quality of the field and the number of genuine contenders reflects the success of the event since is inception.

Australians in the field at this stage include Richard Green, Peter O’Malley, Brett Rumford, David Bransdon, Jarrod Moseley, Wade Ormsby, Marcus Fraser, Scott Strange, Scott Barr, Marcus Both, Craig Jones, Simon Nash, James Nitties, Martin Doyle, Terry Price, Terry Pilkadaris, Peter Fowler and Gareth Paddison.

Many of these have starts via the Australasian Tour money list with this event making places available in the field to a wide mix of international players.

For Terry Price this tournament signals his return to the European Tour for the first time since breaking his leg in August of 2005. He has played several pro am events in Australia in his preparation to get back into the swing of tournament golf and this will be a big week for the 45-year-old looking to restart his career. He should get some form of medical exemption for 2007 as he did have full playing status in 2006 but this will be an interesting litmus test for him.

A number of the Australians are in need of a big week to either jump into or consolidate their position inside the top 115 who will regain status for 2007 in two weeks time. With only one event remaining after this week in which they will be eligible, the likes of Ormsby, Bransdon, Pilkadaris and Fowler have much at stake in the next two weeks to avoid a trip to Tour School.