U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick has confirmed he will be playing in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship next week, in arguably the strongest professional field the event has ever seen.
Fitzpatrick, who became the newest hero of British golf after his brilliant victory at The Country Club, Brookline in June, will be taking part in the 21st playing of the event over three classic links courses – the Old Course St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.
Currently ranked 10th in the Official World Golf Ranking, Fitzpatrick said: “I’m really looking forward to it. I had a great welcome from the Scottish fans when I played St Andrews in The Open Championship after my win at Brookline, and I’m sure it will be the same again this time. Everyone wants to win big tournaments at iconic venues, so winning here would be a great way to add to an already amazing year so far.”
Also confirmed is 2019 Open Champion Shane Lowry, winner of the BMW PGA Championship earlier this month. He said: “The Dunhill is always one of the best weeks of the year, there’s a really good atmosphere having the amateurs around, but it’s still really competitive. I finished fourth last year and after winning the PGA at Wentworth, I couldn’t be going to St Andrews more confident. I’ve been playing well for a while and this is an event I’d love to win. Everyone would like to win a big championship on the Old Course on a Sunday.”
Already announced they will be playing are four-time Major Champion and World Number Two Rory McIlory, defending champion and 2016 Masters Tournament winner Danny Willett, World Number 15 Billy Horschel, two-time winner Tyrrell Hatton and 2019 Alfred Dunhill Links Team Championship winner Tommy Fleetwood.
Francesco Molinari will have the chance to go back to the course where he has been a winner, returning to Carnoustie for the first time since his 2018 Open victory.
Pádraig Harrington, a two-time winner of The Open and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship will be in the field along with fellow Major champion Geoff Ogilvy.
The championship is a celebration of links golf, played over the Old Course St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, from September 29 to October 2.
With a prize fund of US$5 million, the Alfred Dunhill Links incorporates two separate competitions - an individual professional tournament for the world's leading golfers and the Team Championship in which the professionals are paired with amateur golfers which creates a unique atmosphere.
For the first three days entry is FREE, tickets are not needed. Only tickets for the final day, Sunday, October 2, on the Old Course, need to be purchased. There will be no ticket sales on the gate, tickets can be purchased in advance via the following link: www.alfreddunhilllinks.com/tickets/.
In June 2011, the Alfred Dunhill Links Foundation was established as the official Foundation of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. The Foundation is committed to developing young amateur golfers in Scotland and South Africa and also supports the University of St Andrews and the St Andrews Pilgrim Foundation, which refurbishes and preserves historical monuments in the town.
