Defending champion Padraig Harrington is to return to St Andrews in October with the goal of winning an unprecedented third Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Harrington delighted the Old Course galleries last year when he won his second Dunhill Links title – his first success came in 2002 – on the way to his first European Order of Merit crown.
It has already been an emotional 2007 for World Number Ten Harrington, as he became the first Irishman in 25 years to win the Irish Open, when he beat Welshman Bradley Dredge, in a dramatic play-off at Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort in May.
Harrington will face a formidable field at St Andrews, including another former winner, Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie, and England's Paul Casey and Nick Dougherty, who were both involved in the tense finale of the US Open Championship last month at Oakmont Country Club.
Dougherty led after the first round, ultimately finishing tied seventh, while on day two Casey shot an unforgettable 66, the best round of the Championship, before going on to finish joint tenth.
The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship traditionally boasts one of the most international fields on The European Tour International Schedule, and South Africa’s popular World Number Five, Ernie Els will return again.
Another early entrant is Europe's 2008 Ryder Cup Captain and six time Major winner Nick Faldo, who claimed his second Open Championship at St Andrews in 1990.
The championship, which takes place from October 4-7, was conceived as a celebration of links golf and first played in 2001.
It will be played over three of the world’s best known and respected links courses – the Old Course at St Andrews, the Championship Course at Carnoustie – which hosts The Open Championship later this month – and the highly regarded Kingsbarns Golf Links.
The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship has a unique format.
With a prize fund of US $5 million, it incorporates two separate competitions - an individual professional tournament for the world's leading golfers, and a team event in which they are paired with some of the most celebrated amateur golfers.
Among the amateurs who played last year were Marcus Allen, Ian Botham, Zinzan Brooke, Sir Bobby Charlton, Johan Cruyff, Kenny Dalglish, Michael Douglas, Morné du Plessis, Jonathan Edwards, Hugh Grant, Ruud Gullit, Dennis Hopper, Ronan Keating, Kyle MacLachlan, Bill Murray, Sir Matthew Pinsent, Richard Ramsay, Sir Steve Redgrave, Tico Torres and Michael Vaughan.
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, October 7.
Entry for under 16s and students is free.
Tickets are available through the ticket hotline on 0870 010 9021 or at the entrance gates.
There is free parking for spectators and a free shuttle bus service will be in operation between the courses on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
