Dunhill win can ease the pain of Ryder Cup loss for golfers

At Hazeltine last week Rafa Cabrera Bello,Thomas Pieters, Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Danny Willett and Matthew Fitzpatrick were amongst the European side beaten by the USA 17-11.

Sportsmen often talk about wanting to get straight back out and compete again straight after a defeat, and that group have the chance to do just that at Carnoustie, St Andrews and Kingsbarns over the next few days.

Lifting the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship title on Sunday afternoon would at least go some way to easing the bitter pain of the Ryder Cup loss.

Those players, of course, are only part of the attraction of the Dunhill.

The event incorporates two separate competitions – an individual professional tournament for 168 of the world’s leading golfers and a team championship, in which each professional is paired with one of 168 amateurs, played over the three courses.

Practice began earlier in the week, with David Farrell, from rock band Linkin Park and Australian cricketer Shane Warne, appearing as amateurs, taking their opportunity to play the Old Course in St Andrews before the event tees off.

Thorbjørn Olesen is aiming to become the first player to successfully defend the title.

The draw for the championship has thrown up some fascinating pairings.

Last year’s team championship winner, former footballer Michael Ballack, partners Swedish pro Niclas Fasth, while Matthew Fitzpatrick teams up with Barcelona legend Luis Figo.

There are some intriguing Hollywood pairings: Jamie Dornan and Tyrrell Hatton; Andy Garcia and Gregory Bourdy; Matthew Goode and Edoardo Molinari; Hugh Grant and David Howell; Greg Kinnear and Trevor Immelman; and Kyle MacLachlan and Paul McGinley.

Boyzone singer Ronan Keating partners Peter Hanson and Linkin Park’s David Farrell is paired with Eddie Pepperell.