Big golf names turn up at St Andrews

ST ANDREWS, October 3, 2017 – Many of the world’s leading professionals and amateurs are arriving at St Andrews and getting in practice rounds ahead of this year’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship which begins on Thursday.

Former Westlife singer Brian McFadden was among the amateurs out on the Old Course perfecting their game for one of the most prestigious events in golf.

Played over the Old Course St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, the event incorporates two separate competitions – an individual tournament for the leading professionals and a team championship in which the pro’s are paired with amateur golfers.

This year’s professional field has a classic line-up of Major Championship winners led by World No.6 Rory McIlroy and including Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington, Martin Kaymer, Paul Lawrie and Graeme McDowell. Also playing are former World No.1 Luke Donald, Ross Fisher, Matthew Fitzpatrick, World No.17 Tommy Fleetwood, Branden Grace, Chris Wood and Lee Westwood. Defending champion Tyrrell Hatton returns to defend his title. Among the amateurs taking part are rock stars Ronan Keating, Brian McFadden, Tom Chaplin, Dave Farrell, Huey Lewis, Mike Rutherford and Tico Torres, and film actors Jamie Dornan, Matthew Goode, Greg Kinnear and Kelly Rohrbach.

Three sporting knights Sir Ian Botham, Sir Anthony (A.P) McCoy and Sir Steve Redgrave head an impressive line-up of sports stars, including rugby’s Fourie du Preez, Rob Louw, Paul O’Connell and Brian O’Driscoll, footballers Luis Figo and Jamie Redknapp, cricketers Shane Warne, Kevin Pietersen, Mark Boucher, Jacques Kallis and Mark Nicholas, and former world heavyweight championship Wladimir Klitschko.