FOUR of Europe’s Ryder Cup winning golfers get to strut their stuff on Scottish golf links again this week at the pro-am formatted Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
The chief strutter no doubt will be Rory McIlroy, who shemozzilated fellow 25 year old Rickie Fowler in the final round at Gleneagles to help lead the Europeans to victory.
Joining McIlroy, who was rubber-stamped this week as US PGA Tour Player of the Year (as if he needed another accolade in 2014), will be US Open Champion Martin Kaymer, Victor Dubuisson and Stephen Gallacher.
The Alfred Dunhill Links event this week mixes the pros with celebrities/amateurs over three of Scotland’s top courses – St Andrews, Carnoustie and the Kyle Phillips designed Kingsbarns.
Groups play over the three different courses on the opening three days and return to St Andews for the final round which includes the leading sixty pros and the top 20 pro-am teams.
“Obviously with everything that went on last week, I probably couldn’t have picked a better week to play after The Ryder Cup,” said McIlroy.
“We play on three of my favourite golf courses in the world and to be able to walk around with my dad and my best friend, as well, who is on the bag this week. It’s a nice way to try and come down after really what as such an incredible week last week.
“I’m looking forward to it, and obviously still on a bit of a high from The Ryder Cup but looking forward to get to go play some golf with my dad and hopefully continue the good golf that I have played over the past few months, and have another chance to win a tournament here.”
In many ways this tournament is where McIlroy got his first big career boost. In 2007 as a recently minted 18 year old professional the rising star received a special invitation to take part.
“I finished third that week, and that basically earned me enough money to get my European Tour card for the next season,” McIlroy said.
From then on all is history. This year he has just about conquered all, doubling his Major Championships tally to four with victories at the British Open and US PGA Championship, winning his first World Golf Championships and reclaiming his world No.1 spot.
Aussies in the field include Wade Ormsby, Richard Green, Brett Rumford, Brody Ninyette, Ashley Hall, Dimi Papadatos, Nic Cullen, Jack Wilson, David McKenzie, Matthew Griffin, Jason Scrivener and Nathan Holman
TV Times
Live coverage on Fox Sports begins Thursday 10pm.
2014 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship Leaderboard
2014 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship Leaderboard