It may very well be the final word eclectic sports activities crew: 15 globally recognised stars from a variety of sports activities all come collectively this week in St Andrews to have a good time hyperlinks golf – and, if attainable, attempting to win the Alfred Dunhill Hyperlinks Staff Championship.
What have they got in frequent? A love of golf and the joys of enjoying on three of the best hyperlinks programs on this planet – the Outdated Course St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, from October 3-6.
Amongst them is former Actual Madrid and Wales star Gareth Bale who’s enjoying for the second yr working. Extensively considered probably the greatest footballers of his technology and one of many best Welsh gamers of all time, he’s well-known for some spectacular targets.
In 9 years with Actual he gained 15 trophies, together with three La Liga titles and 5 Champions Leagues. He shot a one-under-par at Carnoustie in his first Alfred Dunhill Hyperlinks final yr.
The roll name of sporting celebrities who’re swapping their bats, boots, scrums and surfboards for his or her golf golf equipment is spectacular.
Cricket offers the largest group, five-strong, led by England’s record-breaking quick bowler Jimmy Anderson, Ashes profitable captain Michael Vaughan and batsmen Kevin Pietersen, Allan Lamb and Mark Nicholas.
Additionally enjoying are record-breaking Olympic rower Sir Steve Redgrave, who has performed in each Alfred Dunhill Hyperlinks since 2001, Springboks Rugby World Cup profitable flanker Schalk Burger Jnr, Denver Broncos John Elway, one of many best quarterbacks within the historical past of American Soccer, and 11-time world browsing champion Kelly Slater.
Slater is the newbie all of the professionals wish to play with as he has twice partnered winners – Simon Dyson in 2009 and Thorbjorn Olesen in 2015. The vastly widespread American, recognised as the best ever surfer, completed third within the Staff Championship in 2009 and described it as “the very best week of golf of my life.”
With a prize fund of $5 million, the occasion incorporates two separate competitions – a person skilled match for the world’s main golfers and the Staff Championship through which the professionals are paired with newbie golfers, creating a singular ambiance.
Final yr’s skilled winner Matt Fitzpatrick, the 2022 US Open champion, gained each the Particular person title and the Staff Championship along with his mum Sue. He can be again with Sue to defend each.
Amongst those that have confirmed they are going to be enjoying are a few of the largest worldwide stars within the sport. Tommy Fleetwood is enjoying once more after profitable the Olympic silver medal in Paris and hoping to go even additional than in 2019, when he gained the Alfred Dunhill Hyperlinks Staff Championship, whereas Padraig Harrington and Tyrrell Hatton can be attempting to turn out to be the primary ever three-time winner.
Additionally within the area are Main Champions Brooks Koepka, Shane Lowry, Rory McIlroy, Louis Oosthuizen, Jon Rahm, Patrick Reed and Danny Willett, plus crowd favorite Billy Horschel, winner of final month’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
This yr there’s a sturdy native problem led by Bob MacIntyre, winner of the Genesis Scottish Open and the Canadian Open earlier in the summertime, and Grant Forrest, Calum Hill, Scott Jamieson, David Legislation, Richie Ramsay and Connor Syme.
For the primary three days entry is free. Solely tickets for the ultimate day, October 6, on the Outdated Course, have to be bought. To buy tickets, go to www.alfreddunhilllinks.com/tickets/
