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There is little doubt that the European Tour’s leading players would have enjoyed the Alfred Dunhill Links event this week in and around St Andrews in Scotland in any case but having claimed the Ryder Cup last Monday the highly popular pro-am formatted event is likely to prove an even more enjoyable experience. Played over three fine golf courses in Fife and Angus, the Old Course at St Andrews, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie, the tournament provides a great opportunity for players and in many cases their family and close friends to wind down and compete together on three of the finest courses in all of Britain. Nine of those who were successful at Celtic Manor will be welcomed like heroes at their respective venues when the event gets underway on Thursday. It is fair to say that as the tournament winds up on Sunday a large crowd will pay an acknowledgement to the deeds of those nine just a few days ago. Only three of the nine European Ryder Cuppers are sitting this one out. Luke Donald, Ian Poulter and Miguel Angel Jimenez are not in the field but they will be mentioned on many occasions in what will no doubt become a week of celebration.Mizuno Golf Colin Montgomerie and Darren Clarke, who both played such a key role in guiding their victorious team to victory, will also play the event. Rory McIlroy has been runner up and third in two of his three starts in the event and buoyed by his significant half point on Monday he will surely be a factor again. So too will Graeme McDowell who held off a determined late challenge from Hunter Mahan last week, effectively ensuring the Cup would go to the locals. Lee Westwood returned to tournament golf last week and coped well despite being beaten by Steve Stricker. There was no disgrace there and as a previous winner of this event he is again a good chance.Golf Training Ross Fisher has played well in recent events and although the Ryder Cup held mixed emotions and results for him he has played well enough in this event previously to be a consideration. Retief Goosen has played well in recent weeks and arrives here as a fresh player having taken a break last week. He has not played this event in the last few years but earlier in his career he did play and played well. He could be the dark horse. Surprise winner last year, Simon Dyson, has struggled in his last couple of starts but his form prior to that was good. His form is not a lot worse at this stage to that it was last year so he could again do well.Classical Golf The Australasian challenge has been buoyed by the inclusion of those who gain a start in this US$5 million event as a result of their performances on money list of the Australasian and Asian Tours.other They are headed by Richard Green, Brett Rumford, Andrew Dodt and Scott Strange but in all a total of 20 will play the event, several playing in what might well be the richest event of their lives.
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