The DP World Tour is again in Scotland this week for its one and solely pro-am occasion, with quite a lot of Ryder Cup stars teeing it up and Golf Information has every part it’s worthwhile to know forward of Thursday’s first tee-off.
Event Historical past
The Alfred Dunhill Hyperlinks Championship might solely date again to 2001, however in simply over 20 years it has firmly established itself as a Tour custom. This 12 months marks the twenty fourth version.
The format pairs prime professionals with superstar amateurs throughout three of the world’s most iconic hyperlinks programs. After three rounds, those that make the reduce return to St Andrews, the 2022 Open Championship venue, for a ultimate Sunday showdown.
The sector consists of a number of Ryder Cup stars, with Tyrrell Hatton aiming not solely to defend his crown but additionally to assert a record-equalling fourth victory.
Occasion Format
Every skilled companions with one beginner.
Over the primary three days, groups rotate throughout three separate programs: St Andrews, Carnoustie, and Kingsbarns.
After spherical three, the highest 60 professionals (and ties), together with the highest 20 groups, qualify for Sunday’s finale at St Andrews.
Celebrities participating on this 12 months’s match embrace Michael Douglas, Andy Murray, Ronan Keating and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
The Venues
St Andrews (Previous Course), Fife
Par 72 | 7,318 yardsKnown because the “Previous Woman” and extensively considered the “Dwelling of Golf,” St Andrews hosts The Open each 5 years and stays the bucket-list course for golfers worldwide. Situations dictate every part right here: calm climate can yield very low scores, as Ross Fisher proved along with his course-record 61 in 2017, matched by Hatton final 12 months.
The par-four seventeenth, the legendary “Street Gap,” is the course’s most formidable problem. Count on harder scoring on the again 9, significantly between holes 11 and 17. Greens are usually set round 10 on the stimp-meter.
Carnoustie, Angus
Par 72 | 7,394 yardsCarnoustie has staged eight Open Championships, together with Francesco Molinari’s victory in 2018 and Padraig Harrington’s dramatic playoff win over Sergio Garcia in 2007. However maybe its most notorious chapter got here in 1999, when Jean van de Velde squandered a three-shot lead on the 72nd gap.
Nicknamed “Carnasty,” the course is famend for deep pot bunkers and brutal problem. For this occasion, nonetheless, it’s arrange barely softer to provide amateurs a preventing likelihood. Nonetheless, it stays the hardest of the three. Greens often run at 10.5 on the stimp-meter.
Kingsbarns, Fife
Par 72 | 7,227 yardsJust seven miles from St Andrews, Kingsbarns is a contemporary traditional designed by Kyle Phillips and opened in 2000. With large fairways and minimal water hazards, it’s forgiving in calm situations however can shortly naked its enamel within the wind.
Branden Grace’s opening 60 right here in 2012 stays a benchmark. Greens are anticipated to run at 9.5 on the stimpmeter.
Climate & TV Protection
Climate: Changeable, as ever with Scottish hyperlinks golf. Situations will play an enormous function in scoring.
TV: Stay protection on Sky Sports activities all 4 days, starting at noon Thursday.
Final 10 Champions
2024 – Tyrrell Hatton (-24) |
2023 – Matt Fitzpatrick (-19, 54 holes) |
2022 – Ryan Fox (-15) |
2021 – Danny Willett (-18) |
2020 – Cancelled
2019 – Victor Perez (-22) |
2018 – Lucas Bjerregaard (-15) |
2017 – Tyrrell Hatton (-24) |
2016 – Tyrrell Hatton (-23) |
2015 – Thorbjorn Olesen (-18) |
2014 – Oliver Wilson (-17) |
Chosen Newest Betting Odds
Tommy Fleetwood 6/1
Tyrrell Hatton 15/2
Matt Fitzpatrick 10/1
Robert MacIntyre 12/1
Marco Penge 18/1
Brooks Koepka 22/1
Patrick Reed 22/1
Cam Smith 28/1
Dustin Johnson 40/1
Every Manner 1/5 odds, 6 locations with Betway
What Does It Take to Win Right here?
Driving stats not often inform the story. Fitzpatrick, the 2023 champion, ranked simply 123rd in Driving Distance and 53rd in Accuracy. Even Hatton, who claimed the title final 12 months, sat solely thirty third and twenty third in these classes.
As a substitute, Greens in Regulation (GIR) is the decisive metric. Eleven of the previous 13 winners ranked inside the highest 10 for GIR, with Fitzpatrick main the sphere in 2023 and Fox rating ninth in 2022.
This occasion is usually a birdie-fest, because of friendlier course setups to accommodate amateurs. Scoring on par fours typically separates the winner from the pack—4 of the final seven champions topped the par-four stats.
Hatton’s successful complete of -24 final 12 months matched his 2017 file and highlighted his love affair with this occasion, significantly when situations are calm.
For full betting odds go to Betway
