ALFRED DUNHILL LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP

Past results: 2007

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Dougherty's Dunhill
Nick Dougherty at last made the transition from promising player to star name when he came out on top of a strong international field at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, signing for a final round 71 and a tournament total of 270, 18 under par.

‘This is the best day of my career so far, it’s a life changing win’ said the 25-year-old Englishman after receiving the coveted trophy and a cheque for £400,000.

After several disappointments on the Old Course in the past, Dougherty experienced the thrill of victory at the Home of Golf: ‘this means the world to me; the Old Course is very special. I love St Andrews. The fans, the Scottish public that come and watch here, are so knowledgeable. To win at St Andrews, coming up through the town on eighteen, is top drawer.’

Dougherty was a highly successful amateur player, making a huge contribution to the victorious 2001 Walker Cup team, and was the European Tour’s rookie of the year in 2003. A single tour victory was achieved at Singapore two years ago but a string of top tens this season from the Liverpool player, including seventh place at the US Open, had convinced onlookers that a big win was in the offing.

Second place went to fellow Englishman Justin Rose, who finished on 272, and third was Irish teenage sensation Rory McIlroy a shot further back. Former champion Paul Lawrie tied for fourth with veteran Barry Lane. South Africa’s Ernie Els had yet another good week at the Dunhill by coming in joint sixth with compatriot Trevor Immelman on 275. Immelman’s 65 in round two was the lowest of the week on the Old Course.

This year’s Dunhill was played in beautiful weather throughout and the champion praised the condition of the Links, describing the Old Course as ‘spectacular, world-class and pretty much the pinnacle.’

Dougherty began the week with a 67 at Kingsbarns, scoring seven birdies in a round blighted only by a surprising five at the short fifteenth. There were no more dropped shots in the next two rounds he played: four birdies and an eagle at Carnoustie took him to a round of 66, the same score as he achieved in the third round at St Andrews where the best of his six birdies came at the Road Hole.

Starting the final round on 17 under par, three clear of Peter O’Malley, Dougherty immediately gave hope to the field by dropping shots at the first two holes. He rallied well to score three birdies in a row from the fifth, enough to keep him at least one in the lead as first Paul Lawrie, then Ernie Els and finally Justin Rose attacked.

While Dougherty got a final birdie at 15, all his major competitors stumbled. Lawrie and Rose both took five at seventeen, while Els dropped a total of four shots at sixteen and seventeen. When Dougherty came to play the Road Hole he was once again three shots clear and had the luxury of playing it in a leisurely five. A par at the last brought him a champion’s ovation from the large crowd gathered at the Home End.

The team event was won by Australian pair Scott Strange and Robert Coe.