Alfred Dunhill Links | 40 years of golfing history

1985 It Starts With Seve

One year on from his iconic Open victory on the Old Course, the legendary Seve Ballesteros was back in St Andrews for the inaugural Alfred Dunhill Cup, representing Spain in the international team matchplay format

1986 Norman Conquest

Greg Norman leaps the Swilken Burn on the way to a second consecutive Alfred Dunhill Cup victory with the Australian team, partnering David Graham and Rodger Davis

1987 The Golden Boys

Howard Clark, left, Nick Faldo and Gordon J Brand celebrate winning the Alfred Dunhill Cup in front of cheering spectators reflected in the beautiful trophy itself

1988 Rivals Reunited

Sandy Lyle, left, and Nick Faldo get ready to move on to the 18th at the Old Course at the climax of one of the great battles of the Alfred Dunhill Cup in a quarter-final England would win 2-1 over Scotland. Faldo finished with a 67 to prevail by a single shot

1989 A Major Force

The victorious Team USA included two of the four Major Championship winners from 1989: Curtis Strange, left, had successfully defended the US Open, while Mark Calcavecchia, centre, was the new Open champion. Joining them is Tom Kite

1990 Down to the Wire

Ronan Rafferty, David Feherty and Philip Walton get their hands on the Alfred Dunhill Cup trophy for Ireland, but they had to fight for it: after six matches, their final against England was tied – Feherty eventually beat Howard Clark on the third play-off hole

1991 The Comeback

Gary Player was 55-years-old when he returned to top-level sport for the Alfred Dunhill Cup and he came within a play-off of winning the trophy for South Africa, losing to Sweden’s Mats Lanner, pictured right

1992 Glove Story

America’s Fred Couples feels the autumnal cold in St Andrews. The 1992 Masters champion couldn’t help the US team avoid a semi-final exit to eventual champions England

1993 Hats Entertainment

Fred Couples was prepared for the elements when he returned to St Andrews in 1993, with John Daly and Payne Stewart sporting matching headwear after taking revenge on England in the final – Daly beating Peter Baker in the deciding match

1994 The Price is Right

This was a career high for Nick Price, who became the first man in 70 years to win both the Open and the PGA Championship in the same year, but he couldn’t help Zimbabwe escape the group phase at the Alfred Dunhill Cup

1995 Rocky Start for Els

It’s the South African team of David Frost, Ernie Els and Sylvester Stallone. The star of the Rambo and Rocky franchises replaces Retief Goosen on the Swilken Bridge after partnering Els in the pro-am competition

1996 Sky-high Celebrations

The 1996 Alfred Dunhill Cup opening ceremony featured parachutists that matched the St Andrews sunrise for drama and spectacle; the United States ended with the trophy after a final against New Zealand

1997 Flag Day for South Africa

South Africa’s Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and David Frost celebrate after a 2-1 win over Sweden earned them the Alfred Dunhill trophy, with Els beating Joakim Haeggman in the deciding match

1998 Enter the Tiger

Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and David Frost successfully defended the Alfred Dunhill Cup for South Africa, but 1998 was also notable for the first appearance by Tiger Woods, then 22, and already with his first Major Championship under his belt

1999 ‘and I took that personally’

Michael Jordan chases Sergio Garcia after the famously competitive NBA legend grew tired of the Spaniard flying ahead during the pro-am competition

2000 Spanish Highs

The Spanish dream team of Jose Maria Olazabal, left, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Miguel Angel Martin pose with the Alfred Dunhill Cup on St Andrews’ famous Swilken Bridge. The trio overcame the South African team of Ernie Els, David Frost and Retief Goosen – 2-1 in the final to retain their title

2001 Local Hero

A new-look competition, and an ecstatic Paul Lawrie punches the air after claiming victory in the inaugural Alfred Dunhill Links Championship – two years on from his famous Open victory just a few miles away at Carnoustie. The Scotsman – in front of packed home galleries at the Old Course – holed a miraculous 40-foot putt from the Valley of Sin to get his hands on the trophy

2002 Irish Eyes are Smiling

Victorious Irishman Padraig Harrington shakes hands with Argentinian Eduardo Romero after coming through a dramatic play-off to win the Championship. The three-time Major winner also picked up the first of his two Team Championships that year in the company of amateur partner JP McManus

2003 Like Father, Like Son

An emotional moment for the Torrance family as the father-son pairing of Sam and Daniel pick up the Team Championship. "Because he's my son, I'm full of pride and joy but even taking that into account, what he did this week was incredible," said Torrance Snr

2004 Playing the Part

Beautiful Kingsbarns provides the backdrop for a catch-up between two Hollywood legends, the late Dennis Hopper, left, and Samuel L Jackson, on the first day of competition at the Championship

2005 The Full Monty

Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie and actor Michael Douglas shoot the breeze during the final round at St Andrews. The company of Hollywood royalty clearly rubbed off on Monty who won the tournament, storming back from five shots adrift to claim victory with a last-green birdie three

2006 Master Class

Jose Maria Olazabal and Vijay Singh get ready to tee off for the first round of the Championship at Kingsbarns. The pair won five Majors between them, including three Masters (Olazabal in 1994 and 1999 and Singh a year later in 2000)

2007 In the Nick of Time

Englishman Nick Dougherty – with the R&A clubhouse in the background – poses with the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship trophy following his two-stroke victory. It was Dougherty’s second European Tour win and he finished ahead of a chasing pack including Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy

2008 When Bobby met Rory

Rory McIlroy deep in conversation with Manchester United football legend Bobby Charlton during the third round of the Championship. McIlroy has finished runner-up three times and competed in the Team Championship on several occasions in the company of his dad, Gerry

2009 Surf meets Turf

NFL legend Marcus Allen and champion surfer Kelly Slater exchange tips on the 18th green during the third round of the Championship at Kingsbarns, before play was postponed later in the day due to gale force winds

2010 Kaymer Time

Martin Kaymer celebrates after holing a birdie putt on the 17th en route to victory in the final round of the Championship, finishing three shots clear of Englishman Danny Willett. It was a golden year for the German: he won the US PGA Championship, the KLM Open as well as the Alfred Dunhill Links, becoming the first player since Tiger Woods in 2006 to win three successive events in a year

2011 Fame and Fore-tune

Practice makes perfect for (left to right) Michael Douglas, Huey Lewis, Andy Garcia and Tico Torres ahead of the start of the Championship. The actors and musicians have been regular participants in the Team Championship over the years

2012 Austin Powers

Two-time Major winner Dustin Johnson jumps over the burn on the first hole of the final round on the Old Course. The American was partnered by his brother Austin in the Team Championship

2013 Howell in One

David Howell shares his special moment with amateur playing partner Hugh Grant. The Englishman won after the second play-off hole against Peter Uihlein. Howell and Grant finished tied ninth in the Team Championship

2014 Doubles Partners

Former tennis star Tim Henman chats with playing partner Tommy Fleetwood on the first hole during the final round of the Championship. Fleetwood finished the tournament tied second alongside Richie Ramsay and Rory McIlroy, one behind winner Oliver Wilson

2015 Olesen rides the wave

Surfing great Kelly Slater is first to congratulate playing partner Thorbjorn Olesen after the Dane’s victory in the Championship. Olesen held off the US pair of Brooks Koepka and Chris Stroud to win by two strokes

2016 Hatton Shades the Field

Englishman Tyrrell Hatton jokes around with amateur playing partner and Fifty Shades of Grey star Jamie Dornan. The pair’s chemistry helped inspire Hatton to his first European Tour title after his final round 66 took him three shots clear of the field

2017 For Warnie

The late great cricketer Shane Warne, right, with Kiwi golfer Ryan Fox on the 17th during the final round of the Championship. Warne and Fox were regular partners in the Team Championship and Fox dedicated his 2022 Dunhill victory to Warne, who passed away earlier in the year

2018 Laid-back Bill

Actor Bill Murray jokes with spectators on the 17th during the first day of play. The Hollywood legend has been a regular competitor in the Team Championship over the years

2019 Justins in Synch

Musician Justin Timberlake, left, and England’s Justin Rose share a joke on the 18th hole during the third day of the Championship

2021 Happy Birthday, Danny

Danny Willett celebrates victory on the 18th green. The Englishman’s final round of 68 gave him a two-shot winning margin on the day of his 34th birthday

2022 Two Irons

US golfer and West Ham United fan Billy Horschel, left, shares a moment with amateur playing partner Mark Noble, the former West Ham captain. The pair’s football connection inspired them to a tied tenth finish in the Team Championship

2023 Family Business

2022 US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick poses with the Alfred Dunhill Links trophy on the Swilken Bridge after his three-shot victory. Fitzpatrick also picked up the Team Championship alongside his mother and playing partner, Susan, left

2024 Easy Ryders

Ryder Cup colleagues Tommy Fleetwood, left, and Jon Rahm walk off the second tee during day three of the Championship. Englishman Fleetwood ended the tournament in third place – three shots behind winner Tyrrell Hatton – while Rahm finished another three shots back

Scottish Stars

Robert MacIntyre and Andy Murray meet after the final round of the 2025 tournament. MacIntyre the Individual Championship by 4 strokes over Tyrrell Hatton

40 Years

40 years of golfing history