Amateur stars come out to play in

Alfred Dunhill Links Championship

NEWS RELEASE
Some of the best known and most enthusiastic amateur golfers join a world-class field of professionals, led by major championship winners, Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer, for next week’s prestigious Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews' Old Course, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.
Celebrities from the world of entertainment include film and TV stars Matthew Goode, Hugh Grant, Sam L Jackson, Kyle MacLachlan, James Nesbitt, John O’Hurley and Aidan Quinn.

Also taking part are rock music legend Huey Lewis and Michael Flatley, the Irish/American step dancer and producer who created the Riverdance show, and playing for the first time will be popular Radio 2 presenter Chris Evans.

A trio of Britain’s sporting knights – Sir Ian Botham, Sir Bobby Charlton and Sir Steve Redgrave - lead a locker room full of sporting heroes, including Dutch football legends Johan Cruyff and Ruud Gullit, former England player Jamie Redknapp and Scottish defender Alan Hansen.
Rugby is represented by All Blacks former captain Sean Fitzpatrick, Scotland’s Gavin Hastings and Argentina’s Hugo Porta, while cricketers Allan Lamb and Michael Vaughan of England and Steve Waugh and Shane Warne of Australia will also be teeing off.
The immensely popular former Wimbledon tennis player Tim Henman will be back, along with Austrian downhiller Franz Klammer and nine-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater.
The amateurs will be playing in one of the strongest fields ever assembled for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, which includes two current major champions: Graeme McDowell (US Open) and Martin Kaymer (US PGA). Also entered from the world top 50 are: Lee Westwood (3), Rory McIlory (8), Ernie Els (11), Edoardo Molinari (16), Retief Goosen (17), Padraig Harrington (22), Ross Fisher (27), Charl Schwartzel (34), Robert Karlsson (39) and Peter Hanson (42). Plus Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie and defending champion Symon Dyson.
With a prize fund of US$5 million, the championship incorporates two separate competitions - an individual professional tournament for the world's leading golfers and a team event in which the professionals are paired with some of the most celebrated amateur golfers which creates a unique atmosphere.
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 10.
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 runs from St Andrews to Kingsbarns and Carnoustie.