DID YOU KNOW – ALFRED DUNHILL CHAMPIONSHIP
• The championship has a history of producing debut winners. Since the first playing in 2000, eight have entered the winners circle for the first time on The European Tour. They are: Anthony Wall (2000), Adam Scott (2001), Justin Rose (2002), Mark Foster (2003), Marcel Siem (2004), Charl Schwartzel (2005), Alvaro Quiros (2007) and Garth Mulroy 2011 (Nov 2011).
• Charl Schwartzel will be looking to make history by becoming first player to win the Alfred Dunhill Championship three seasons in a row. Should he prevail again he would become the sixth player in European Tour history to win the same event for three consecutive years. He would then join Ian Woosnam (1990-92 Monte Carlo Open), Sir Nick Faldo (1991-93 Irish Open), Colin Montgomerie (1998-2000 PGA Championship), Tiger Woods (1999-01, 2005-07 WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and 2005-07 WGC – Cadillac Championship) and Ernie Els (2002-04 Heineken Classic).
• Charl Schwartzel has already won the Alfred Dunhill Championship three times, in the 2005, 2013 and 2014 seasons. Should he win for a fourth time the South African would become the eighth player in European Tour history to win the same event four or more times.
• The 2003 Championship witnessed, for only the second time in European Tour history a six-man play-off. Mark Foster was the player who prevailed, beating Anders Hansen, Trevor Immelman, Paul Lawrie, Doug McGuigan and Bradford Vaughan. The first time this occurred was the 1990 Vino Verde Atlantic Open.
• European Tour history was made in the 2007 tournament, when Alvaro Quiros became the first player to win a European Tour event in his first event as a full Member, having graduated from the 2006 European Tour Qualifying School.
• Louis Oosthuizen will be looking to win his eighth European Tour title and first at the Alfred Dunhill Championship. Of his 12 professional victories, nine have been in his homeland. He currently leads the list among active players for the most consecutive winning years on The European Tour, with five, dating back to the 2010 season.
• Charl Schwartzel will looking to collect his fourth Alfred Dunhill Championship crown, having first prevailed in 2005, then in 2013 and 2014 seasons. His record in the event is outstanding. He has played in the tournament 11 times, nine of these being at Leopard Creek, where he was the first winner in 2005. He has also been placed second on a further four occasions; in the 2006 season, 2007, 2010 and 2011. From his nine tournaments at this course he is a total of 104 under par. He has been under par in his last 20 competitive rounds at Leopard Creek. Of his 34 rounds in the Championship at Leopard Creek overall, only two have been over par and 32 at par or better.
• The 2015 Alfred Dunhill Championship will be played at Leopard Creek Country Club for the 12th time. Charl Schwartzel has the best 72 hole total at the venue of 264 (-24) in the 2013 edition. This year he won by 12 shots, the second largest winning margin in European Tour history. This has only been bettered by Tiger Woods, won by 15 at the 2000 US Open Championship.
