ALFRED DUNHILL LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP, 1-4 OCTOBER 2009

Carrying on the tradition of excellence set by the Alfred Dunhill Cup which was played over the Old Course from 1985-2000, this tournament has established itself as a unique event on the golfing calendar and is set to provide another week of superb golfing entertainment.

Entrance to the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship will be free at all three courses on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. A ticket price of £15 (concessionary £10) will be charged for the final day’s play over the Old Course on Sunday, 5 October. Entry for under 16s and students is free. There is free parking for spectators and a free shuttle bus service will be in operation between the courses on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Tickets are available through the ticket hotline on 0870 010 9021 or at the entrance gate.

Gallery

2008
First Round
England’s Ross Fisher and Denmark’s Soren Hansen set the pace in the first round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship with superb eight-under-par 64s at Kingsbarns.

The sun came out and there was just a modest breeze which allowed good scoring on all three courses and contributed to a sparkling day’s golf

Fisher, who did not quite make it into Nick Faldo’s European Ryder Cup team, and Hansen, who did play at Valhalla, crafted superb rounds, the key to their good scoring coming with terrific finishes.

Fisher, who won the European Open at the London Club in July, birdied the last three holes and said: “To take advantage of a day like this was just great and to do it in the fashion that I did it with a 64 was very pleasing. I thoroughly enjoy events like this. It was just a nice relaxed atmosphere. Obviously I am off to a great start, but there is also a long way to go.”

Hansen, who was playing with world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, did even better. He birdied the 7th and 8th, having started at the 10th, then hit a second shot to within a few inches on the par five 9th for an eagle. He said: “It was a great experience but the Ryder Cup took a lot out of me. It’s just a case of trying to get back to your normal play and find some energy. I didn’t do much practice last week, but I’ve done a fair bit this week and I’m very pleased with my round.

“I really enjoyed Wladimir’s company. It was a nice relaxed atmosphere. I was afraid he was going to let it go on a few holes and break a few clubs, but in fact he seemed a very relaxed guy. But I certainly wouldn’t want to go in the ring with him. He’s a big house. I’m really looking forward to the next couple of days because you can learn from all champions and he’s definitely one of them.”

They are being tracked by Germany’s Martin Kaymer, also playing at Kingsbarns, who shot a 65 which included eight birdies and just one bogey. He said: “My goal this year is to finish in the top five in the Order of Merit and to stay in the top 50 in the world.”

Some of the galleries’ big favourites are poised menacingly behind. Two-time Open champion and current US PGA champion Padraig Harrington shot a 67 at Kingsbarns and England’s Lee Westwood had a 68. There was a 70 for Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie, winner in 2005. World No 6 Ernie Els would have been disappointed with his 73 on a day of good scoring.

The tournament, conceived as a celebration of links golf, is played over three of the world’s best known and respected links courses - the Old Course at St Andrews, the Championship Course at Carnoustie and the highly regarded Kingsbarns Golf Links.

Joining the professionals were an enthusiastic group of talented amateur golfers. From the world of entertainment were film and television stars Hugh Grant, Samuel L.Jackson, John O’Hurley, Dougray Scott and Luke Wilson, and music legends Don Felder from the Eagles, Ronan Keating, Huey Lewis and Bon Jovi drummer Tico Torres.

Many of the world’s great sports stars were taking part including football’s Sir Bobby Charlton, Johan Cruyff, Roberto Donadoni, Ruud Gullit and Jamie Redknapp, world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, Olympic rowing legend Sir Steve Redgrave, British tennis hero Tim Henman, American Football running back Marcus Allen, downhill ski star Franz Klammer, and former rugby players Sean Fitzpatrick, Gavin Hastings and Morné du Plessis, while cricket is represented by India’s Kapil Dev, England’s Sir Ian Botham, Mark Nicholas and Michael Vaughan, and Australian spin legend Shane Warne.

Leaders in the team competition are Patrick Elsmie, the managing director of Gleneagles Hotel, playing with French professional Gregory Bourdy, and English-born US based company director Stephen Trickey, playing with Marcus Fraser. They both had a 12-under par team score of 60 at the Old Course, which gave them a one shot lead over a trio of pairings which included British Olympic legend Sir Steve Redgrave, who was playing with Italy’s Francesco Molinari.

Sir Steve said: “Francesco was a lovely guy to play with and a new partner for me. This is the best start I’ve had, beating the the ten under I did with Andrew Coltart at St Andrews a few years ago. My eagle two at the 6th hole today was a real highlight. I hit a great drive over the bunkers that I’ve never cleared before and the ball ended up four feet from the flag. Amazing.”

World Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko said he thoroughly enjoyed his first round in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship with Hansen, where they are nine-under-par. “I am very excited to be here, though I was nervous before we played. But that’s good, it usually means I will play well. I love St Andrews and the history of this place and the tournament. It’s a great honour for me to be able to play here and meet all these great personalities.

“I had never met Soren before but I have seen him on TV and I admire him a lot. He was very consistent today which is what I would like in my game. I have really enjoyed myself so far. It’s been fantastic. It’s also my first time in Scotland and I love the country.”

England football legend Sir Bobby Charlton, who is on eight-under-par with talented young Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy after an excellent round on the Old Course, was delighted with his round. He said: “I had a really fantastic day. I had two net eagles, one going out and one coming back on the par fives. I’ve never made the cut before. I’ll be going to bed early tonight to get ready for tomorrow. Rory is a lovely lad. Just at the start of a great career. He played really well. He could have putted every one of the first nine greens.”

Second round
Austria’s Markus Brier was perfectly at home in the chilly conditions on the Old Course as he took over the lead after the second round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

In a brisk wind which gusted up to 30mph, Brier shot 70 for an eight-under-par total, then revealed the secret of playing in the cold.

“We’re playing in Austria in winter when it gets down to three degrees, but with the wind it can feel much colder. I even play in December sometimes. The trick is to do a bit more warm-up in the morning to get the body moving. And you have to keep warm on the course and have the gloves out after every shot. Today I also have a big partner, Schalk Burger, so I can shelter behind him a bit.”

Brier, whose only tournament win was in June 2006 when he took the BA-CA Golf Open in his native Austria, has a one shot lead over Denmark’’s Soren Hansen, Sweden’s Robert Karlsson, Germany’s Martin Kaymer and Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy.

McIlroy, the precocious 19-year-old, who finished third in last year’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, crafted one of the finest rounds of the day with a 69 at Carnoustie which included five birdies and two bogeys. Earlier in the year he lost a play-off in the Omega European Masters in Switzerland after he had been leading, but clearly this has had no affect on his buccaneering game.

He said: “Padraig Harrington called me over on Wednesday and said hard luck and that he knew how it felt. We’ve all blown tournaments that we should have won. He’s been second 29 times on the Tour and learned how to win. He said just get yourself in there.

“I have good memories from last year at this tournament and Carnoustie is a course that has been very good to me and I have shot a lot of good scores. It just suits my eye. It’s a real ball striker’s golf course and I feel like I am a good ball striker.”

England football legend Sir Bobby Charlton, who partnered McIlroy in the team competition, said: “I didn’t play well, but I didn’t have to, because my pro was so, so sensational. Today was just really tough with the wind which kicked everyone into touch. But we’ve had one of the bright spots of the day here with Rory, who was just sensational.”

McIlroy got his reward from Sir Bobby who has invited him to a Manchester United Champions League match as his guest. McIlroy said: “He is a legend. I’m a big Manchester United fan. He was very supportive of me and let me get on with it. He said he would take me round the ground and the dressing rooms so that would be great.” The pair finished the day on 11-under-par in the team competition, five shots behind the leaders.

On seven-under-par along with McIlroy is Denmark’’s Soren Hansen, who shot 73 today, Sweden’s Robert Karlsson (70) and Germany’s Martin Kaymer (72), all playing at St Andrews.

A further shot behind is a large group of players which includes two-time Open champion and current US PGA champion Padraig Harrington, 2005 US Open champion Michael Campbell, England’s Lee Westwood and Scotland’s top placed player Gary Orr.

On a day of difficult conditions, in addition to McIlroy there were only two rounds under 70; Magnus Carlsson, who shot 68 at St Andrews and Paul Broadhurst with a 69 at Kingsbarns.

In one of the most thrilling team competitions for years, rock star Ronan Keating, partnered by Graeme Storm, led on 16-under-par, after a betterball 66 at St Andrews which featured six birdies and a net eagle. Keating said: “Graham Storm and I have played together a number of times before. It makes it much easier. When your pro is someone new, the first few days are spent getting to know each other. I know Graham which means I feel much more relaxed and we can just get on with the game and have a laugh out there. St Andrews is my favourite course, but tomorrow is Carnoustie so perhaps I’ll change my mind if we have an equally good score there!”

Keating and Storm are one shot ahead of England cricket legend Sir Ian Botham, who was playing with David Howell. Botham was wearing a natty pair of mustard plus fours which followed a red pair on Thursday. He said: “Tomorrow I might be wearing grey and blue, not sure yet though, I’ll work it out later. I started wearing them at the beginning of the year in Qatar. I really like them, they are very comfy and keep me warm. Unlike Ian Poulter, I’ve got the legs for them, you’ve got to have a bit of meat on the calves.”

Botham said he was really looking forward to the next round at Carnoustie. “I made the cut in 2004 with Ian Woosnam. It would be fantastic to make the cut again this year. It was a delight to watch David play. It is good to play with someone who is coming back into form after a few injuries.”

Among a group of teams on 14-under-par are British Olympic rowing hero Sir Steve Redgrave and his partner Francesco Molinari. The highlight of his round was a dramatic net four on the Road Hole. He said: “My partner was in the Road Hole bunker. I was short of the green in two. I hit my chip too hard and it went over the green onto the road and into the grass strip beyond. I wasn’t quite sure how to play it. I decided the sand wedge, and caught it absolutely right. It rolled off the back of the Road Hole bunker and right up to the pin, and I sank the putt for a 5 net 4. The crowd was very excited and it was a great moment.”

A former Spitfire pilot shot down behind enemy lines shortly before D-Day, is also in contention for the team competition after the second round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews.

Anthony Bryan, now 85, and professional partner Gary Orr of Scotland, shot a betterball score of 70 on the Old Course for a 12-under-par total to be four shots behind the leaders Ronan Keating & Graeme Storm.

Bryan, the oldest man ever to play in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, volunteered to fly in the Royal Canadian Air Force when war broke out and he flew Spitfires from Kenly in the south of London.

Shot down over France shortly before D-Day in May 1944, he worked with the French underground for over four months before he could rejoin his squadron. He flew on numerous missions and was awarded the DFC in 1944.

Bryan said: “I’ve greatly enjoyed the event. I have had a wonderful player and a great gentleman to play with. Though I don’t think I have ever been so cold on a golf course and my game showed it.”

Bryan’s family were English, but he was born in Mexico and then he became American when he went to work in the United States. He said: “After today I think I’m an honorary Scotsman.”

Third Round
Germany’s Martin Kaymer and Sweden’s Jarmo Sandelin battled tough golfing conditions to share the lead going into what promises to be an exciting final round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at the Old Course, St Andrews, tomorrow.

The two are locked together on six-under-par after Kaymer shot a 73 and Sandelin a 72 in the third round at Carnoustie, while Sweden’s Magnus Carlsson was a shot behind after a birdie at his final hole for a 73, also at Carnoustie.

The three are trying to become the first non-British or Irish players to win the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, which since its inception in 2001 has been won by Padraig Harrington, twice, Paul Lawrie, Lee Westwood, Stephen Gallacher, Colin Montgomerie and Nick Dougherty.

However, ominously placed another shot behind, is the two-time Open champion and current US PGA champion Harrington, winner in 2002 and 2006, who shot a terrific two-under-par back nine of 34 to keep himself strongly in contention, after a poor outward 40. Alongside him on four-under-par are second round leader Markus Brier of Austria, England’s Ross Fisher and Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee.

Kaymer, who shot a one-over-par 73, said: “It was the toughest day out there and we are playing the toughest course so I think everything around par, or even two or three over par, is a pretty solid round today. I’ve played a few links courses in the past and it’s obviously special to play at St Andrews and Carnoustie in this weather. You have to have the patience and you have to accept some bogeys. I think it is great that Harrington is up there. If you play against the best players in the world that is the only way you can improve. It would be nice if we could play together tomorrow.”

Martin Kaymer has been playing in the team competition with his brother Philip who has had his father Horst as caddie. Philip said: “Playing with Martin has been a great experience and it was a great feeling when I looked up at the scoreboard and saw that he was leading the tournament. I think that it has helped him to have me and our dad Horst out there on the course with him. It is great to have made the cut. It was my father’s big wish.”

Harrington, who won the 2007 Open Championship at Carnoustie, tried to play down his chances of victory. He said: “I wouldn’t see myself as favourite. I’m happy that I’m only two behind, but I’m not 100 per cent confident about how I’m playing. It will be interesting to see how the situation pans out though. I’m looking forward to getting into the hunt on the back nine and making a few putts.

“It’s difficult out there. I hit a drive about 195 yards on one hole and I had three three-putts in the first six holes. You’ve got to play sensible shots all the time. I got caught once or twice going for the pins. It’s all about hitting it in the right place,” he added.

On a day of strong wind and heavy squalls of rain, it was a question of the survival of the fittest. Across all three courses, there were only six rounds under par, the best being by England’s John Bickerton, who shot a 70 on the Old Course to take the lead in the team competition with his amateur partner Bruce Watson. They shot a betterball score of 65 on the Old Course to open up a five shot lead over Marcus Fraser & Stephen Trickey, Lee Westwood & Andrew Chandler and Jarmo Sandelin & Rob Hersov.

South African businessman Watson, who lives in Johannesburg and is a member of the River Club and Leopard Creek, only knew for sure he had a place in the championship last Thursday. He said: “I was in London on business so cancelled all my appointments this week and jumped on a plane to Scotland. This has been the experience of a lifetime.

“I had never played any of the three courses before. My round at Carnoustie on Thursday was the round of a lifetime. I had a gross 75 and improved the team score by ten shots. I improved by three shots at Kingsbarns on Friday and by five shots here at St Andrews today. I can’t wait for tomorrow. I think it may help that we played the Old Course today and then will be straight back tomorrow while it’s so fresh in my mind.”

His partner John Bickerton said: “Bruce is a good player. He is strong off the tee and played fantastically well at Carnoustie. You tend to try not to focus on the team score because you don’t want to get your partner thinking about that and maybe putting him off, but with the scoreboards everywhere it’s hard to ignore the fact that we’re leading. I’ll try to keep him focused tomorrow.”

Former professional Andrew Chandler, playing with Lee Westwood, is one of the three pairs behind Bickerton & Watson. He said: “You just have to keep your head down and get on with it. I have played in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship a number of times and have not yet made the cut so today’s result is great. Lee Westwood and I are good friends so it is nice to be able to play this tournament together.”

Also through for the final day’s play is England cricket legend Sir Ian Botham, who is playing with David Howell, who finished on 13-under-par. He said: “Today has been very hard with the wind and the rain. But I’m pleased with our result and it looks like we might be in tomorrow. I’ve spent a lot of time recently practising my game, I think it is important to take this tournament seriously when we are playing with the pros.

“After this tournament I only have a few days before my charity walk to raise money for leukaemia research which is taking place for nine days from October 10, starting in Taunton, where I began my career.”

Among the teams failing to make it through was Colin Montgomerie and British tennis hero Tim Henman. Henman said: “This is the first time I have played Carnoustie and it is just amazing. I’ve seen it played so many times on television so it is wonderful to finally get here and play it myself. I’ve had a fantastic time at this tournament and I hope to return again next year. Playing on the Old Course is a similar feeling to playing at Wimbledon, both are steeped in history.”

Final Round
Sweden’s Robert Karlsson birdied the first extra hole of a sudden death play-off against England’s Ross Fisher and Germany’s Martin Kaymer to win a thrilling Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on the Old Course at St Andrews.

Karlsson celebrated his second victory in succesive tournaments after hitting his wedge to three feet on the 1st hole of the Old Course and rolling in the putt, while Kaymer missed his eight foot birdie chance and Fisher hit an enormous drive straight into the Swilken Burn.

Karlsson, Fisher and Kaymer all finished on a ten-under-par total of 278 on a day of stunning scoring on the Old Course as the wind of the previous three days dropped and a bright sun encouraged a plethora of birdies. Karlsson produced one of the biggest improvements, trading a 76 at Carnoustie on Saturday for his brilliant 65 in the final round at St Andrews.

The victory with its first prize of US$800,000 (£432,000) takes Karlsson to the top of the European Order of Merit. He said: “I was very emotional sitting on the steps there for the prize-giving. It’s the sort of course you learn to fall in love with. The more you play it, the more you understand it.

“I had a pretty good feeling for the play-off hole. It was a 3-wood and a wedge – perfect. The good thing was that it was slightly downwind so I knew I was going to get into my best range, about 100 yards, for my second shot.

“It was a funny week coming from four shots behind and with so many guys up there ahead of me. You should have seen me at Carnoustie on Saturday, I played some bad holes. I just went out there today and tried to do my best. I got off to a really good start and all of a sudden I was up there on the leader board and I just tried to keep it going. It’s amazing that I have won it. I don’t know how I’ve done it.”

Ross Fisher had also hauled himself back into contention with a splendid seven-under-par 65 which featured an outward nine of 31 and an eagle 3 at the 14th hole where he chipped in. He said: “I think the Old Course was there for the taking today. I played it Friday and it was pretty brutal, a 40-50 yard wind, so we knew the forecast was going to be more generous for us today. I just wanted to put in a good performance. I got off to a great start, then came the eagle which was massive. I knew my birdie putt on the 18th might be to win. It was a little left-to-right and I left it in the jaws. It was a shame, but I can’t be too disappointed.”

With two holes to go, victory had seemed to be in the grasp of 23-year-old Kaymer, who would have been the youngest winner of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. He had birdied the 16th hole to go one ahead of Karlsson and Fisher, but he immediately gave the shot back at the infamous Road Hole where his second finished short of the green and he failed to get down in two. A birdie at the 18th hole would also have given him victory, but he could only manage a par four.

It was a disappointing end to what had been an emotional week for Kaymer, who had been playing in the team championship with his brother Philip, whose caddie for the week was their father Horst. Kaymer’s mother died from cancer in July only days after his victory on home soil in the BMW International in Munich and the time in Scotland has been an opportunity for family bonding.

Kaymer said: “I was disappointed after having chances on the last two holes to win the tournament, but I think overall it was a really good week for me. I was really close to winning and it gives me a lot of pleasure. It was very special to play with my brother and father. It was a nice week for us all.”

The enthusiastic St Andrews galleries were all expecting a charge from two-time winner Padraig Harrington, who famously came from behind this year to win the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale and the US PGA title at Oakland Hills, but it never materialised. Two behind as he teed off, he started with two bogeys in the first four holes, and, although he managed three birdies around the turn, he could never get himself into contention.

He said: “It was an anticlimax, but what can you say. I started off with some really bad shots and struggled, then I made a few birdies but it all fell apart. I wasn’t playing well enough or confident enough. It’s hard to get away with it on a Sunday when you are not prepared right.”

The tournament, conceived as a celebration of links golf, is played over three of the world’s best known and respected links courses - the Old Course at St Andrews, the Championship Course at Carnoustie and the highly regarded Kingsbarns Golf Links.

The team championship too provided a thrilling climax. England’s John Bickerton and South African Bruce Watson had taken a five shot lead into the final round, but they had to fend off a determined challenge by Robert Karlsson & Dermot Desmond, the highlight of which was a two by the Irish businessman at the short 11th hole for a net one. Eventually, however, Bickerton & Watson held on for a betterball 66, compared to Karlsson & Desmond’s 60 to win by one shot on 27-uner-par.

South African businessman Watson, who lives in Johannesburg and is a member of the River Club and Leopard Creek, only knew for sure he had a place in the championship last Thursday. He said: “I was in London on business so cancelled all my appointments this week and jumped on a plane to Scotland. So I’ve gone from not knowing I was in it to winning it.

“It’s quite unbelievable and I want to pay tribute to my partner, John Bickerton, who was absolutely the best partner I could have hoped for. He is a true gentleman and he has helped me to get through the event with his advice. He has even been lining up putts for me. When he comes to play in South Africa, in December, we will definitely meet up and I will have the chance to entertain John and his new wife, who he married last Saturday. The gross 75 I shot at Carnoustie on the first day, was the round of my life.

“I think that coming into this tournament, for the first time, at such short notice was actually a good thing. It was all so hectic that I had no time for nerves. If I’d known for months that I was going to play I think I would have been far more nervous.”

Although they could not quite make up the gap, Sir Ian Botham and his partner David Howell chased the leaders all the way, finishing on 22-under-par. Sir Ian said: “I am absolutely delighted to finish so high in the team event. David and I had a 63 today and although we didn’t win it still feels good to have played well and as ever I have really enjoyed the tournament. I used to play with my good friend Ian Woosnam, but now to have the privilege of having David as my new partner was fantastic. He’s a great player, a lovely bloke and tremendous company.”

Every day Sir Ian has worn plus twos and long socks, in various striking colours, although today they were grey. He joked: “Actually, as Woosie wasn’t here this time, I decided that it was only right to wear his trousers instead. I’ve had a lot of complimentary comments about them.”