Alfred Dunhill fun week for all

BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2008 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship | Preview | 01 Oct 2008

The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship has again attracted one of the strongest fields in European golf with 10 of the 12 European Ryder Cup players in the field in addition to the likely pre-tournament favourite, Ernie Els.

Despite a shaky start in its inaugural year in 2001 when inclement weather and a scepticism to this format was apparent, the event has grown into one of the most popular on the European Tour with fans and players alike.

Not only is the US$5 million an attraction but the opportunity for players to reward friends and family with the chance to play with them at three of the finest courses in Britain has helped establish this event into one keenly anticipated by players.

Two Open Championship venues, St Andrews and Carnoustie, are used in the rotation and along with the Kingsbarns Links make up the three venues for this Pro Am style format for the opening three days of the event. The final day at the host venue of the Old Course at St Andrews is restricted to those players making the cut and the leading 20 Pro Am teams.

Not only is this event the who’s who of European golf but it is to a large extent, the who’s who of the British sporting and entertainment industry. Many high profile stars of stage and screen tee it up this week along with leading sporting figures, rivalling the AT&T Pebble Beach event in terms of its audience appeal.

Ernie Els is in the field and although he has yet to win the event he has often done well when playing with his father Neels. Els arrives in Scotland after several strong tournaments of late including a 6th last week in Atlanta.

Padraig Harrington and Lee Westwood have both been previous winners and given their current form they must surely be contenders again. Harrington has here twice and will again tee it up with his regular partner in this event, JP McManus.

Lee Westwood may be feeling the pinch a little after the battles at Valhalla and his near miss last week at the Belfry but he will enjoy playing an event which he has not only won but contended on a regular basis.

Justin Rose’s last stroke-play event was at the Johnnie Walker Championship a month ago but since then he handed out a beating to the world number two Phil Mickelson at the Ryder Cup. Having finished runner up in this event last year, Rose stands a good chance of going one better.

Robert Karlsson has been in his best ever form in 2008 and it could well continue this week. A last start winner in Germany, Karlsson has been particularly impressive in the big events in 2008 also. He missed the cut in this event last year but much better can be expected of him this week.

Michael Campbell is closing in on his very best, another top ten finish when third last week at the British Masters further proof of that.

In addition to Campbell, Australasia is well represented as the tournament offer starts for leading players on various money lists including those in Asia and Australasia. As a consequence there are more Australians in this event than in any other stand alone European Tour event his season.

Richard Green, Won Joon Lee, Greg Chalmers, Scott Hend, Peter O’Malley, Marcus Fraser, Adam Bland, Matthew Millar, Kane Webber, Scott Barr, Steven Bowditch, Peter Fowler, James Nitties, Unho Park, Ewan Porter, Terry Pilkidaris, Gary Simpson and Steve Jeffress all get their chance at a piece of the US$5 million purse.

Chalmers, Lee and Porter are taking advantage of the Nationwide Tour’s week off and will be back there after hopefully grabbing a share of the US$5 million available this week.