PADRAIG HARRINGTON BIDS
FOR A HAT-TRICK IN ALFRED
DUNHILL LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP ·
Defending champion Padraig Harrington is to return to St Andrews in October with the goal of winning an unprecedented third Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Harrington delighted the Old Course galleries last year when he won his second Dunhill title on the way to his first European Order of Merit crown. Scottish golf fans had turned up in their thousands to watch what was expected to be a final day shoot-out over the Old Course between Harrington and Bradley Dredge for one of the most prestigious titles in golf.
Harrington had started the round one shot behind the Welshman, but the championship was effectively decided by the events at the 174yd 11th hole. Dredge hit his shot into a deep bunker, eventually finishing with a double bogey 5, while Harrington sank a 20ft putt for a birdie 2.
The three-shot swing gave Harrington a lead he never lost.
It has already been an emotional 2007 for World No 11 Harrington as he became the first Irishman in 25 years to win the Irish Open, when he beat Bradley Dredge, again, in a dramatic play-off at Adare Manor in May. Harrington will face a formidable field at St Andrews including another former winner, Colin Montgomerie, and Paul Casey and Nick Dougherty, who were involved in the dramatic finale of the US Open last month at Oakmont.
Dougherty led after the first round, ultimately finishing seventh, while Casey shot an unforgettable 66, the best round of the championship, to finish 10th.
The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship traditionally boasts one of the most international fields on the European Tour and South Africa’s popular World No 5 Ernie Els will return again. Another early entrant is Ryder Cup captain Nick Faldo.
The championship, which takes place from October 4-7, was conceived as a celebration of links golf and will be 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.
Carnoustie will be fresh from hosting the 2007 Open Championship later this month. The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship has a unique format. With a prize fund of US$5 million, it incorporates two separate competitions - an individual professional tournament for the world's leading golfers and a team event in which they are paired with some of the most celebrated amateur golfers.
Among the amateurs who played last year were Marcus Allen, Ian Botham, Zinzan Brooke, Sir Bobby Charlton, Johan Cruyff, Kenny Dalglish, Michael Douglas, Morné du Plessis, Jonathan Edwards, Hugh Grant, Ruud Gullit, Dennis Hopper, Ronan Keating, Kyle MacLachlan, Bill Murray, Sir Matthew Pinsent, Richard Ramsay, Sir Steve Redgrave, Tico Torres 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 7.
Entry for under 16s 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.