Ireland’s Paul Dunne was impressive in getting his first European Tour win last week at the British Masters, holding off Rory McIlroy. Dunne was the third straight player to win his first European Tour event in three weeks, and this week, will someone make it four at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championships? This event started back in 2001 and is held over three of the top links courses in Scotland: Kingsbarns, Carnoustie and St. Andrews, the last two of which are courses in the Open Championship rotation.
Details
Event: Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
Category: European Tour
Date: October 5th – 8th
Location: St. Andrews Old Course, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, Scotland
Out of the last eight winners here, five have reached -20 or lower with a “high” score of -17. As with most links courses, all three can be gotten if the wind stays down.
Past Five Winners
2016: Tyrell Hatton -23
2015: Thorbjorn Olesen -18
2014: Oliver Wilson -17
2013: David Howell -23
2012: Branden Grace -22
The Field
While it isn’t a completely star-studded affair, we are going to see some big names at this event. The field is headlined by Rory McIlroy, who is favored to win it. Keep in mind that he really hasn’t done much of late. He hasn’t finished better than 22nd in an event since August when he tied for fifth at the Bridgestone Invitational. Guys like Martin Kaymer and Thorbjorn Olesen are in the field, and both are former winners. Olesen didn’t have a win on the Tour last year but he has been playing well, so he should be in contention. Florian Fritsch is maybe someone you don’t want to bet to win outright but he’s been consistent, so a Top 10 prop might be attractive.
What To Know About The Course
Kingsbarns opened in 2000 and recently hosted the 2017 Women’s British Open this year, while Carnoustie has been around since 1850 and has hosted the Open Championship seven times, and will again in 2018. However, the centerpiece of the event is St. Andrews on the Old Course, which is called the “Home of Golf”, where some believe that golf was played there in the early 15th century. As with all links courses, there are bunkers everywhere and while the fairways are wide, you have to hit them in order to make birdies. If you end up in the bunkers or the fescue, you’ll be likely to play for bogey.
A Good Matchup To Bet: Shane Lowry over Tommy Fleetwood
Lowry is coming off a solo seventh finish at the British Masters and he has two top-10s in his last three starts. Fleetwood finished T-10 at the Irish Open after winning the France Open, but in four starts after that, he finished T-27 at the Open Championship, T-28 at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, T-61 at the PGA Championship and missed the cut at the Omega European Masters. He is also coming off the birth of his first child, and even though he usually fares well here, including a T-15 in 2016, Fleetwood has been through a lot lately. Lowry wasn’t that far back in T-18 last year in Scotland and he has been playing quite well lately.
Top-Five Pick: Tyrrell Hatton +400
The defending champion was in the midst of some mighty struggles earlier as he missed the cut in six of seven events from the U.S. Open to the PGA Championship. However, he has a T-3 at the Omega European Masters and a T-8 at the British Masters and he was on fire here last year, shooting a 62 in the third round and finishing with a 66 with win by four strokes. He might not win again this year, but Hatton will be right there.
Odds To Win 2017 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
Rory McIlroy +505
Branden Grace +2050
Tyrrell Hatton +2050
Tommy Fleetwood +2050
Shane Lowry +2050
Lee Westwood +2050
Matthew Fitzpatrick +2550
Chris Wood +2550
Paul Dunne +2550
Eddie Pepperell +3550
Lucas Bjerregaard +3550
Thorbjorn Olesen +3550
Martin Kaymer +3550
George Coetzee +3550
Richie Ramsey +4050
Ross Fisher +4050
Joost Luiten +4550
Graeme Storm +5050
JB Holmes +5050
David Horsey +5050
Thomas Detry +6550
Ryan Fox +5500
Byeong Hun An +6550
Richard Sterne +5050
Julian Suri +6550
Marc Warren +6550
Kiradech Aphibarnrat +6550
Fabrizio Zanotti +7050
Padraig Harington +7550
Alexander Bjork +8550
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