The DP World Tour is back in Scotland this week for its only Pro-Am event, with a number of Ryder Cup stars that set up and golf news has everything you need to know prior to the first tee-off on Thursday.
Tournament history
The Alfred Dunhill Left Championship can only date from 2001, but in just over two decades it has been firmly established as a tour tradition. This year is the 24th edition.
The format links top professionals with famous amateurs in three of the world’s most iconic link courses. After three rounds, those who bring the cut back to St. Andrews, the Open Championship location 2022, for a last Sunday Showdown.
The field includes various Ryder Cup stars, in which Tyrrell Hatton not only aims to defend his crown, but also to claim a record-similar fourth victory.
Event format
Every professional partners with one amateur.
During the first three days, teams run over three separate courses: St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.
After round three, the top 60 professionals (and ties) qualify, together with the top 20 teams, for Sunday’s final in St. Andrews.
- Celebrities participating in this year’s tournament are Michael Douglas, Andy Murray, Ronan Keating and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Catherine Zeta-Jones will be in action this week
The locations
St Andrews (Old Course), Fife
Par 72 | 7,318 meters
Known as the “old lady” and generally considered the “home of golf”, St Andrews organizes the Open every five years and remains the bucket list course for golfers worldwide. The circumstances here determine everything: calm weather can yield very low scores, as Ross Fisher proved with his course record 61 in 2017, matched by Hatton last year.
The Par-Vier 17th, the legendary ‘Road Gat’, is the most formidable challenge of the job. Expect heavier scoring on the rear nine, especially between holes 11 and 17. Groenen are usually set about 10 on the stimp meter.
Carnoustie, Angus
Par 72 | 7,394 meters
Carnoustie has organized eight Open Championships, including the victory of Francesco Molinari in 2018 and the dramatic play-off victory of Padraig Harrington on Sergio Garcia in 2007. But perhaps the most infamous chapter came in 1999, when Jean van de Velde Voorbang on the 72nd-hole.
Nicknamed ‘Carnasty’, the course is known for deep pot bunkers and brutal difficulty. However, it is slightly softer for this event to give amateurs a fight. Yet it remains the most difficult of the three. Greens usually run at 10.5 on the stimper meter.
Kingsbarns, Fife
Par 72 | 7,227 Yards
Only seven miles from St. Andrews, Kingsbarns is a modern classic designed by Kyle Phillips and opened in 2000. With wide fairways and minimum water hazards, it is forgiving in calm conditions, but can quickly expose its teeth in the wind.
The opening of Branden Grace 60 here in 2012 remains a benchmark. Greens are expected to walk on the stimper meter at 9.5.
Weather and TV coverage
Weather: Changeable, as always with scottish left golf. The circumstances will play a major role in scoring.
TV: Live reporting on Sky Sports all four days, starting for afternoon Thursday.
Last 10 champions
2024-Tyrrell Hatton (-24) |
2023-Matt Fitzpatrick (-19, 54 holes) |
2022-RYAN FOX (-15) |
2021-Danny Willett (-18) |
2020 – canceled
2019-Victor Perez (-22) |
2018-Lucas Bjerregaard (-15) |
2017-Tyrrell Hatton (-24) |
2016 Tyrrell Hatton (-23) |
2015-Thorbjorn Oleesen (-18) |
2014 Oliver Wilson (-17) |
Danny Willett Winner in 2021
Selected last grooming opportunities
Tommy Fleetwood 6/1
Tyrrell Hatton 15/2
Matt Fitzpatrick 10/1
Robert Macintyre 12/1
Marco Money 18/1
Brooks Koepka 22/1
Patrick Reed 22/1
Cam Smith 28/1
Dustin Johnson 40/1
Each way 1/5 opportunities, 6 places with Betway
What is needed to win here?
Statistical statistics rarely tell the story. Fitzpatrick, the 2023 champion, arranged only 123rd in driving distance and 53rd in accuracy. Even Hatton, who claimed the title last year, was only 33rd and 23rd in those categories.
Instead of, Greens in Regulation (GIR) Is the decisive metric. Eleven of the last 13 winners arranged in the top 10 for GIR, where Fitzpatrick led the field in 2023 and Fox Ranking Ninth in 2022.
This event is usually one Birdie-FestThanks to more friendly course arrangements to house amateurs. Scoring Fours often separates the winner of the Peloton-Vier from the last seven champions were at the top of the Par-four statistics.
Hatton’s winning total of -24 Last year corresponded to his record of 2017 and emphasized his love affair with this event, especially when the circumstances are calm.
Visit for full grooming opportunities Betway
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