Where golf in Scotland is involved, it is likely the biggest names in the game will be as well.
The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is underway and the likes of Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood are competing in the latest big fixture of the DP World Tour schedule.
This event, played across the Old Course, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, is like the BMW PGA Championship in that many celebrities, family members and former sports stars take part in the pro-am side of the tournament.
Gareth Bale, Jamie Redknapp, Kevin Pietersen, Andy Garcia, Bill Murray, Yasir Al-Rumayyan and Jay Monahan are all in the field, showing the true variety of the amateur event. That is the pull of the home of golf.
McIlroy is playing with his father Gerry and Bob MacIntyre is playing with his father Dougie, so the tournament offers the chance to create some memories as well as win silverware.
Last year Matt Fitzpatrick won and he also won the team event with his mum Sue. Lee Westwood, Colin Montgomerie, Padraig Harrington, Martin Kaymer and Tyrrell Hatton have all won this event in the past.
We are nearing the end of the DP World Tour season and we are approaching the Playoffs portion of the schedule. After this week, just three events are left until the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and then the DP World Tour Championship.
While you go about your days, make sure to revisit us here where we will have all of the key takeaways from each day’s play.
The biggest moments from Scotland you might’ve missed
The low around the deer was shot by Darren Fitchard. He posted an 11 under-par 60 at Kingsbarns, which included nine birdies and two eagles in the team competition.
There are three pairs tied at the top. Andrew Wilson and Tom Leonard, Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Dave Farrell, and Daniel Gale and Samir Kaul.
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Jesper Svensson, and Matthew Jordan tied for the longest birdie streak. They both had five birdies in a row on the way to rounds of four under par 68’s.
The weather was calm for a change and in the fairly windless conditions there were 21 players who went bogey free. Out of the 168-man field. That’s 12.5% of the field, for those of you who are wondering.
For the European Ryder Cup team, it was a family affair, with four of the players partnering up with their parents. Out of those four players. It was Tyrrell Hatton and his dad who lead the way in the European Ryder Cup team championship at 11 under par.
The lowest score at the Old Course was a nine under par 63 from Daniel Hillier. Elsewhere, the lowest score at Carnoustie was a seven under par 65 from Jon Rahm. Obviously, the leader was 11 under par with a 61 at Kingsbarns.
Andrew Wilson had a hole in one on the eighth at Kingsbarns. That could be a big bar tab tonight.
Unsurprisingly, the hardest hole of the day was the 17th here at Saint Andrews. It had an average score of 4.43 and only one birdie was made here all day.
The easiest hole of the day was the par five third at Kingsbarns. The average score was 4.13, nearly a full shot under par.
Things At The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship That Just Make Sense
The Dunhill Links isn’t your regular run-of-the-mill golf tournament, and there are numerous things that are special about the event.
Dogs are allowed on site at all three golf courses, and you will find a whole host of furry friends out enjoying the competition at each venue. There is even a dog helping run the driving range at St Andrews this week.
The tournament has its own newspaper, The Links Times which has all the big stories of the day as well as order of plays for each golf course.
There is a really diverse field in Scotland this week, including fourteen LIV players. A mix of PGA Tour players, DP World Tour players and LIV players is great to see.
A big part of the event is the Team Championship, where an amateur is paired with a pro in an aim to get the lowest four ball better ball score. The field features tonnes of celebrities and top sportsmen who all want to get their hands on the coveted trophy.
The Dunhill bring in specialist green halfway huts for the event, and they are stocked to the brim with savoury delights such as pork and haggis sausages rolls. For players with a sweet tooth, they can go for the famous Fudge Doughnuts from Fisher and Donaldson bakery.
Entry Monday to Saturday is free, meaning you can see loads of work class golf for absolutely no cost. If you want to attend on Sunday it is free for children and military and just £21.20 for a full adult ticker.
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