Strong international field to challenge defending champion Montgomerie in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship

A strong international field, including two of the World’s Top Ten players who have won six Major Championships between them, will challenge Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie in the 2006 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews from October 5-8.

Fiji’s Vijay Singh, a three-time Major winner, currently ranked Number Four in the World, heads the list which includes the ever popular Ernie Els, the 2002 Open Champion and twice winner of the US Open Championship, ranked Number Eight in the World, and the 2002 Alfred Dunhill Links Champion Padraig Harrington.

Scotland’s favourite Colin Montgomerie gave the delighted Old Course galleries a day to remember last year when, having overturned a five shot deficit, he birdied the final hole to take the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship title by one shot from England’s Kenneth Ferrie. Montgomerie’s victory was his first over the venerable Old Course having finished second to Tiger Woods at the Open Championship earlier in the year.

The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, with prize money of US$5 million is a celebration of links golf, 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 players all play one round at each of the courses over the first three days, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, October 5, 6 and 7, with the top 60 and ties, together with the top 20 teams, going forward to the final round over the Old Course on Sunday, October 8.

The teams will comprise one professional and one amateur who include personalities from the worlds of sport, TV and films, and business. Amongst those who have played in the past are Boris Becker, Ian Botham, Sir Bobby Charlton, Kenny Dalglish, Michael Douglas, Morné du Plessis, Sean Fitzpatrick, Hugh Grant, Ruud Gullit, Samuel L. Jackson, Kyle MacLachlan, Sir Matthew Pinsent, Dennis Quaid, Sir Steve Redgrave 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 8. Entry for under 16’s 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.