FOUL WEATHER FOR ALFRED DUNHILL LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP

Survival of the fittest: Kaymer

and Sandelin lead with one

round to go at St Andrews

Germany’s Martin Kaymer and Sweden’s Jarmo Sandelin battled tough golfing conditions to share the lead going into what promises to be an exciting final round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at the Old Course, St Andrews on Sunday.
The two are locked together on six-under-par after Kaymer shot a 73 and Sandelin a 72 in the third round at Carnoustie, while Sweden’s Magnus Carlsson was a shot behind after a birdie at his final hole for a 73, also at Carnoustie.
The three are trying to become the first non-British or Irish players to win the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, which, since its inception in 2001, has been won by Padraig Harrington, twice, Paul Lawrie, Lee Westwood, Stephen Gallacher, Colin Montgomerie and Nick Dougherty.
However, ominously placed another shot behind, is the two-time Open champion and current US PGA champion Harrington, winner in 2002 and 2006, who shot a terrific two-under-par back nine of 34 to keep himself strongly in contention, after a poor outward 40.
Alongside him on four-under-par are second round leader Markus Brier of Austria, England’s Ross Fisher and Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee.
Kaymer (pictured above on Carnoustie's 17th tee by David Cannon/Getty Images), who shot a one-over-par 73, said: “It was the toughest day out there and we are playing the toughest course so I think everything around par, or even two or three over par, is a pretty solid round today. I’ve played a few links courses in the past and it’s obviously special to play at St Andrews and Carnoustie in this weather.
" You have to have the patience and you have to accept some bogeys. I think it is great that Harrington is up there. If you play against the best players in the world that is the only way you can improve. It would be nice if we could play together tomorrow.”
Martin Kaymer has been playing in the team competition with his brother Philip who has had his father Horst as caddie. Philip said: “Playing with Martin has been a great experience and it was a great feeling when I looked up at the scoreboard and saw that he was leading the tournament. I think that it has helped him to have me and our dad Horst out there on the course with him. It is great to have made the cut. It was my father’s big wish.”
Harrington, who won the 2007 Open Championship at Carnoustie, tried to play down his chances of victory. He said: “I wouldn’t see myself as favourite. I’m happy that I’m only two behind, but I’m not 100 per cent confident about how I’m playing. It will be interesting to see how the situation pans out though. I’m looking forward to getting into the hunt on the back nine and making a few putts.
“It’s difficult out there. I hit a drive about 195 yards on one hole and I had three three-putts in the first six holes. You’ve got to play sensible shots all the time. I got caught once or twice going for the pins. It’s all about hitting it in the right place,” he added.
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. Joining the professionals are an enthusiastic group of talented amateur golfers from the world of entertainment and sport.
On a day of strong wind and heavy squalls of rain, it was a question of the survival of the fittest. Across all three courses, there were only six rounds under par, the best being by England’s John Bickerton, who shot a 70 on the Old Course to take the lead in the team competition with his amateur partner Bruce Watson.
They shot a better-ball score of 65 on the Old Course to open up a five-shot lead over Marcus Fraser & Stephen Trickey, Lee Westwood & Andrew Chandler and Jarmo Sandelin & Rob Hersov.
South African businessman Watson, who lives in Johannesburg and is a member of the River Club and Leopard Creek, only knew for sure he had a place in the championship last Thursday. He said: “I was in London on business so cancelled all my appointments this week and jumped on a plane to Scotland. This has been the experience of a lifetime.
“I had never played any of the three courses before. My round at Carnoustie on Thursday was the round of a lifetime. I had a gross 75 and improved the team score by ten shots. I improved by three shots at Kingsbarns on Friday and by five shots here at St Andrews today. I can’t wait for tomorrow. I think it may help that we played the Old Course today and then will be straight back tomorrow while it’s so fresh in my mind.”
His partner John Bickerton said: “Bruce is a good player. He is strong off the tee and played fantastically well at Carnoustie. You tend to try not to focus on the team score because you don’t want to get your partner thinking about that and maybe putting him off, but with the scoreboards everywhere it’s hard to ignore the fact that we’re leading. I’ll try to keep him focused tomorrow.”
Former professional Andrew Chandler, playing with Lee Westwood, is one of the three pairs behind Bickerton and Watson. He said: “You just have to keep your head down and get on with it. I have played in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship a number of times and have not yet made the cut so today’s result is great. Lee Westwood and I are good friends so it is nice to be able to play this tournament together.”
Also through for the final day’s play is England cricket legend Sir Ian Botham, who is playing with David Howell, who finished on 13-under-par. He said: “Today has been very hard with the wind and the rain. But I’m pleased with our result and it looks like we might be in tomorrow. I’ve spent a lot of time recently practising my game, I think it is important to take this tournament seriously when we are playing with the pros.
“After this tournament I only have a few days before my charity walk to raise money for leukaemia research which is taking place for nine days from October 10, starting in Taunton, where I began my career.”
Among the teams failing to make it through was Colin Montgomerie and British tennis hero Tim Henman who said: “This is the first time I have played Carnoustie and it is just amazing. I’ve seen it played so many times on television, so it is wonderful to finally get here and play it myself. I’ve had a fantastic time at this tournament and I hope to return again next year. Playing on the Old Course is a similar feeling to playing at Wimbledon, both are steeped in history.”
To access the live scoring for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, please direct your web browser to: http://www.alfreddunhilllinks.com and click on the Live Scoring link at the bottom of the page.