Alfred Dunhill Links offers unique opportunity for many
Cam Smith back to the scene of his greatest triumph – image Open Championship
This week’s Alfred Dunhill Championship at St Andrews, Carnoustie, and Kingsbarns in the Fife area of Scotland, brings together an eclectic mix of golfers from several tours, providing many with a unique opportunity to play for the US$5 million prize fund and be exposed to not only a European Tour event but the stunning golf courses of this region.
Interestingly, the event has shown little increase in prize money over its 25-year history, but the opportunity to play such a popular event on such great and iconic golf courses, where many can play alongside family and friends in a pro-am format event, proves a great attraction for some of the game’s best, and 2025 is no exception.
Similar events on the PGA Tour, such as the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am and the New Zealand Open on the PGA Tour of Australasia, have highlighted the popularity of such a format, and the longevity of such tournaments has provided a great indication of the importance of a departure from the norm on occasions.
No doubt adding to the celebratory vibe in St Andrews this week will be the presence of four of the successful European Ryder Cup side, namely Matthew Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood, Robert McIntyre, and Tyrrell Hatton, but the inclusion of additional Liv Golfers, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Cam Smith, and Matt Jones is sure to provide plenty of interest.
Hatton is chasing a record 4th victory in the event, having won in 2016, 207 and 2024.
Cam Smith returns to the scene of his brilliant Open Championship win in 2022.
Players who competed well on the PGA Tour of Australasia in the past twelve months also get their chance, many of those without status on the DP World Tour, but getting an opportunity to test their game over great golf courses and against fields considerably more demanding than they have faced at home.
Those players include Anthony Quayle, Harrison Crowe, Corey Lamb, Jordan Doull, Phoenix Campbell, Jasper Stubbs, James Conran, Kerry Mountcastle and Tyler Hodge, who will be pinching themselves as they stand on the first tee of one of golf’s greatest arenas, the Old Course at St Andrews.
Now regular DP World Tour players such as Elvis Smylie, Kazuma Kobori, and Daniel Hillier will be keen to add to their recent success, all three now far enough inside the required Road to Dubai ranking to all but ensure they will be in Dubai in November for the lucrative season-ending Tour Championship and the lead in events.
