Reigning US Open and US PGA champion Brooks Koepka was one of the few USA players able to hold his head up after last week’s Ryder Cup debacle. Tony Finau, who has finished in the top 10 in The Masters, the US Open and the Open this year, also managed to uphold a growing reputation at Le Golf National and both have stayed over in Europe for an extra week to contest the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on the Old Course at St Andrews.
Koepka’s last appearance in the tournament, in 2015, saw him finish runner-up to Thorbjørn Olesen, one of the many heroes of Europe’s team last week. The Dane is not taking part this year but Tommy Fleetwood travels on from Paris in ebullient form having accumulated four points in his side’s winning total. The Englishman was, of course, runner-up to Koepka in the US Open at Shinnecock Hills when his final-round 63 equalled the US Open record. Koepka is a best 11/1 with Betway on the Old Course this week with Finau a general 16/1. Fleetwood is 14/1 with Ladbrokes.
Another record-breaker taking part at St Andrews is ROSS FISHER.
A brilliant final round of 61 in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship last year wasn’t quite good enough to get Fisher to the top of the leaderboard but was a course record at St Andrews. Had an eagle putt on the 18th gone down, the 39-year-old would have broken 60 and he is very much one to have on your side on links courses. Fisher played in the successful 2014 Ryder Cup team at Celtic Manor so may think he has a point to prove having missed selection this year. At 45/1 with Betfred, who are among those bookmakers paying out on places down to seventh, there are certainly worse each-way bets – an Englishman has won the tournament in four of the last five years.
Alfred Dunhill Links Championship Winners List
| Year | Winner | Country | Score | To par | Winning Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Tyrrell Hatton | England | 264 | -24 | 3 Strokes |
| 2016 | Tyrrell Hatton | England | 265 | ?23 | 4 strokes |
| 2015 | Thorbjørn Olesen | Denmark | 270 | ?18 | 2 strokes |
| 2014 | Oliver Wilson | England | 271 | ?17 | 1 stroke |
| 2013 | David Howell | England | 265 | ?23 | Playoff |
| 2012 | Branden Grace | South Africa | 266 | ?22 | 2 strokes |
| 2011 | Michael Hoey | Northern Ireland | 266 | ?22 | 2 strokes |
| 2010 | Martin Kaymer | Germany | 271 | ?17 | 3 strokes |
| 2009 | Simon Dyson | England | 268 | ?20 | 3 strokes |
| 2008 | Robert Karlsson | Sweden | 278 | ?10 | Playoff |
As well as current top players from both sides of the Atlantic, there are several former Major winners due to take part. Martin Kaymer, Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington, Louis Oosthuizen and Graeme McDowell have all entered – the first-named was the winner back in 2010 but is a general 66/1 chance this year.
Alfred Dunhill Links Championship Current Best Odds
Brooks Koepka 11/1
Tommy Fleetwood 14/1
Tony Finau 16/1
Tyrrell Hatton 16/1
Matthew Fitzpatrick 20/1
Shane Lowry 22/1
Chris Wood 25/1
Eddie Pepperell 25/1
Branden Grace 30/1
Louis Oosthuizen 30/1
Andy Sullivan 45/1
Matt Kuchar 45/1
Thomas Pieters 45/1
Ross Fisher 45/1
Matt Wallace 50/1
Tom Lewis 50/1
Lucas Bjerregaard 55/1
Erik Van Rooyen 60/1
Haotong Li 66/1
Martin Kaymer 66/1
Padraig Harrington 66/1
Soren Kjeldsen 66/1
Richard Sterne 66/1
(Odds Correct at 2.30pm October 2)
