Alfred Dunhill Tips & Predictions
The Old Course, St Andrews, Scotland. Par 72, 7,307 Yards
Carnoustie Golf Links, Angus, Scotland. Par 72, 7,345 Yards
Kingsbarns Golf Links, Fife, Scotland. Par 72, 7227 Yards
An impressive triumvirate of venues plays host to one of the quirkiest and most enjoyable events on the European Tour, as a strong field heads north of the border for the nineteenth staging of the Alfred Dunhill Links on the east coast of Scotland. The Dunhill Links is a Pro-Am for the first three days, where each player and their amateur partner plays each of the host courses, before those that progress to the final round compete around the famous old links at St Andrews on the Sunday; hoping to follow the likes of Westwood, Kaymer and Montgomerie in lifting this famous trophy. The top 60 pros, and the top 20 amateurs make it to Sunday.
The mood here is generally relaxed, and the courses are set up to be enjoyed by the amateurs as much as the professionals, and this has made for traditionally low scoring over the years. Kingsbarns is the shortest and easiest of the courses, whilst Carnoustie is the most difficult. Last year the latter averaged more than two shots per round more than the others. So much this week depends on how much of a factor the wind plays, and given the forecast it could be quite substantial; far more so than the benign setup enjoyed over the past three years. All three courses are natural links venues, and the draw could play a substantial part in who contends this year. Any players getting Carnoustie in the worst of the weather could be at a very significant disadvantage.
The keys to being successful here this week will be scoring on the par 4s, wind management, and good bunker play as, wind aside, the intelligent bunkering is an effective secondary defence for all three host courses. Proven links players are far more appealing this week than players in form given the unique nature of the challenge, and I will be looking for those that have performed well at these venues both in the recent Dunhill Links events, and also when the opens were staged at St Andrews and Carnoustie.
The DP World Tour heads to Scotland this week for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, the only pro-am event on the circuit.
Matthew Fitzpatrick defends his title with strong challenges expected from recently crowned LIV Tour champion Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy, who has been runner-up in his last two events, the Irish Open and BMW PGA Championship.
Five-time Major champion Brooks Koepka and two-time Dunhill Links winner Tyrrell Hatton are also in contention in a tournament which takes in three courses, Kingsbarns, Open venue Carnoustie and the home of golf, the Old Course at St Andrews.
Tip 1 - Tyrrell Hatton to win @ 11/1
While Rahm claimed all the headlines on the LIV Tour this year in his first campaign on the breakaway circuit, it was also a good season for another new addition, Tyrrell Hatton.
The Englishman finished in the top five in four of the final five tournaments, a run that included a tournament victory in Nashville, and he demonstrated that his game is in good order last week when he was tenth at the Spanish Open.
Hatton’s record in this tournament is superb - he won it in 2016 and 2017 and his form figures of 3-15-2-7 since those triumphs show he clearly loves the format and the links challenge.
Playing alongside his father in the pro-am format could be a calming influence on his temperamental nature and his performance in Madrid last week suggests he is geared up for a strong challenge, particularly as there are much-needed world ranking points up for grabs which will help in his quest to be involved in Majors.
Tip 2 - Robert MacIntyre to win & each-way @ 20/1
Robert MacIntyre will also be playing with his father this week and he looks in with a strong chance to claim a home success after pushing on to the next level in the last 12 months.
MacIntyre made his PGA Tour breakthrough when he won the Canadian Open in June and followed that with a popular victory at the Scottish Open, having finished runner-up the previous year.
Reaching the PGA Tour Championship was a strong achievement and his recent form is solid with fifth at another links test at the Irish Open and then 12th at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
He should certainly better his tournament best of 20th from 2022 and looks to have a live chance.
Tip 3 - Grant Forrest to win & each-way @ 80/1
Another Scottish hopeful, Grant Forrest, can also make his presence felt from further down the market.
He finished tied for tenth in his last two attempts to win this prize and is another whose recent form has been strong.
Forrest was tied for fifth at the Irish Open after closing with a 66 and then was one of a cluster of players tied for third at the Spanish Open where his Sunday 64 was the best of the day, so confidence is not going to be an issue.