Matt Fitzpatrick to play in Alfred Dunhill Links

September 21, 2022

US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick has confirmed he will be playing in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship next week, in arguably the strongest professional field the event has ever seen.

Fitzpatrick, who became the newest hero of British golf after his brilliant victory at Brookline in June, will be taking part in the 21st playing of the event over three classic Links courses – the Old Course St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.

Currently ranked 10th in the world. Fitzpatrick said: “I’m really looking forward to it. I had a great welcome from the Scottish fans when I played St Andrews in the Open Championship after my win at Brookline, and I’m sure it will be the same again this time. Everyone wants to win big tournaments at iconic venues, so winning here would be a great way to add to an already amazing year so far.”

Also confirmed is 2019 Open champion Shane Lowry, winner of the BMW PGA event earlier this month. He said: “The Dunhill is always one of the best weeks of the year, there’s a really good atmosphere having the amateurs around, but it’s still really competitive. I finished fourth last year and after winning the PGA at Wentworth, I couldn’t be going to St Andrews more confident. I’ve been playing well for a while and this is an event I’d love to win. Everyone would like to win a big Championship on the Old Course on a Sunday.”

Already announced they will be playing are four-time Major champion and world No.2 Rory McIlory, defending champion and former Masters winner Danny Willett, world No.15 Billy Horschel, two-time winner Tyrrell Hatton and 2019 Alfred Dunhill Links Team Championship winner Tommy Fleetwood.

Two Open champions, Francesco Molinari and Louis Oosthuizen, will have the chance to return to the courses where they were winners. Molinari will be back at Carnoustie for the first time since his 2018 victory and Oosthuizen will revisit St Andrews, where he won in 2010.

Among other Major champions in the field are Padraig Harrington, also a two-time Alfred Dunhill Links winner, Charl Schwartzel and Geoff Ogilvy. Among the former winners returning to St Andrews is Branden Grace, who was the youngest champion, at 24, when he won in 2012.