The draw for the first round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, which begins on Thursday, October 2, has thrown up some enthralling encounters.

Two-time Open champion and US PGA champion Padraig Harrington, winner in 2002 and 2006, has once again been paired with Irish racehorse owner J.P.McManus, with whom he also won the Team Championship in those years, to bid for a remarkable treble.

In one of the most intriguing pairings, another former winner, Colin Montgomerie, partners British tennis legend Tim Henman in a four-ball with New Zealand’s 2005 US Open champion Michael Campbell and Hollywood star Samuel L.Jackson.

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, who finished third in last year’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, teams up with England football legend Sir Bobby Charlton.

A fascinating family confrontation takes place at Carnoustie, where Sam Torrance and his son Daniel Torrance, winners in 2003, have been drawn to play with South Africa’s David Frost and his son Sean.

Highlights of the first day draw include:

Carnoustie (10th tee)

09.55: David Frost & Sean Frost and Sam Torrance & Daniel Torrance

10.06: Richard Green & Tico Torres and Ryan Blaum & Marcus Allen.

Kingsbarns (10th tee)

09.22: Graeme Storm & Ronan Keating and Francesco Molinari & Sir Steve Redgrave

09.33: Martin Kaymer & Philip Kaymer and Soren Hansen & Wladimir Klitschko

09.44: Oliver Wilson & Huey Lewis and Justin Rose & Jamie Redknapp

09.55: Colin Montgomerie & Tim Henman and Michael Campbell & Samuel L. Jackson

10.06: Paul Casey & Franz Klammer and Miguel Angel Jimenez & Hugh Grant

10.17: Padraig Harrington & J.P.McManus and Robert Karlsson & Dermot Desmond

10.28: Nick Dougherty & Peter Dawson and Graeme McDowell & Ian Webb

10.39: Henrik Stenson & Mats Andersson and Retief Goosen & Ted Forstmann

10.50: Lee Westwood & Andrew Chandler and Paul McGinley & Rurik Gobel

11.01: Ernie Els & Neels Els and Darren Clarke & Johann Rupert

11.12: David Howell & Sir Ian Botham and Richard Finch & Shane Warne

11.23: Thomas Bjorn & Shaun Pollock and Maarten Lafeber & Johan Cruyff

St Andrews (1st tee)

10.06: Peter Fowler & Michael Vaughan and James Nitties & Simon Kelner

10.50: Rory McIlroy & Sir Bobby Charlton and Chris Wood & Sir Michael Bonallack

11.01: Andrew Coltart & Dougray Scott and Johan Edfors & Luke Wilson

11.12: Stephen Gallacher & Vice President Dan Quayle and Greg Owen & John Angelo

11.23: Sam Little & Ruud Gullit and Emanuele Canonica & Roberto Donadoni

The tournament, conceived as a celebration of links golf, is 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 - from Thursday, October 2 – Sunday, October 5.

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.

One hundred and sixty-eight teams of one professional and one amateur contest the first three rounds, with one round being played at each of the three courses in rotation. Two competitions are played concurrently – individual professional and team. The team score will be the best net score of the two players at each hole.

After 54 holes the field reduces to the leading 60 professionals and ties, plus the 20 leading teams, all of whom play the final round over the Old Course at St Andrews. Play will be in four-ball groups and in order to accommodate as many players as practical, all four rounds will start from both the first and tenth tees at all courses.

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 5. 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.