Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 2024 Preview, Picks & Analysis

Look out the waterproofs, hand warmers, hoodies, woollen hats, snoods and even scarves. Yes, it’s that time of year again - the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.

Nobody who plays in this tournament does so with any expectation of topping up their suntans. But that is part of the fascination.

If the weather is benign then you can expect to see the Old Course in particular being torn to shreds, but it will be a very different matter should the wind howl.

Twelve months ago it was the rain that dominated proceedings, with the event reduced to 54 holes.

And Matt Fitzpatrick captured his first DP World Tour title in two years by winning by three strokes in a Monday finish. He also won the Pro-Am in partnership with his mother, Susan.

The 2022 US Open champion shot six-under 66 on the Old Course at St Andrews to finish on 19-under-par overall in an event that was reduced to 54 holes after heavy rain wiped out play on Saturday and Sunday.

Play was only possible on Monday after remarkable efforts from the greenkeepers at the three courses to make them playable.

Large parts of Carnoustie, in particular, were unrecognisable on Sunday and there were still huge swathes of water on some fairways.

Ryan Fox shot 65 on the Old Course and was tied for second place with Matthew Southgate (66 at St Andrews) and Marcus Armitage (66 at Carnoustie).

Fitzpatrick had not won on the DP World Tour since the Andalucia Masters in October 2021.

This latest title came a week after he was part of Europe's Ryder Cup-winning team in Rome, where he claimed his first point in golf's biggest show after five straight losses across away matches in 2016 and 2021.

He said: "It's funny really, it was kind of a freewheeling week - playing with mum and just trying to enjoy it the best I can and see what happened," said Fitzpatrick, who had pictures taken with his mother on the Swilcan Bridge at the 18th hole and then made birdie from 10 feet.

The Englishman shot 67 at Carnoustie on Thursday and 64 at Kingsbarns on Friday.

A total of 39 players either withdrew or retired ahead of the third and final round because of other commitments. The DP World Tour will be hoping there is no repeat this time.

At the conclusion of this week there are just three tournaments remaining before the end-of-season playoffs, and that means players battling to be in the top 70 who enjoy the rewards those events bring alongside others whose sole focus is on retaining the playing privileges.

On man with no such concerns is Robert MacIntyre, who will be playing alongside his father Dougie in the pro-am. You may recall that MacIntyre had Dougie on the bag when he won the Canadian Open for his breakthrough success on the PGA Tour earlier this year.

MacIntyre said: "I’m really looking forward to playing at St Andrews. I can’t believe there hasn’t been a Scottish winner since 2005. It would be great if I could change that. I’m also incredibly thrilled to be able to play with my dad on the Old Course in the Team Championship.

"For us to play together in a proper Championship at the Home of Golf, is just amazing. It was a very special moment for us when Dad was on the bag in Hamilton and we won. Now we can see what we can do together with clubs in our hands."

MacIntyre says the impact Dougie, who is course manager at Glencruitten Golf Club near Oban, a short distance from the family home, has had on his career over the years has been immense.

Dougie is also steeped in local shinty history having scored twice in Oban Camanachd’s victory over Kingussie in the final of the Camanachd Cup in 1996. He is currently manager of Oban Celtic.

MacIntyre has had a season to remember, also winning the Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club in July in front of a rapturous home gallery - this after having the same title ripped from his grasp 12 months earlier due to the brilliant play of Rory McIlroy. Victory at St Andrews would give him a memorable double.

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

And speaking go McIlroy, he will also be in action. He has a huge lead at the top of the Race to Dubai but will be eager to win this week after finishing runner-up at both the Irish Open and BMW PGA Championship in successive weeks. He admitted that the loss in Ireland was especially hard to take because he felt that he handed the title to Rasmus Hojgaard. But he has little to reproach himself over after coming up short at Wentworth. Billy Horschel was simply too good when it mattered most.

Unsurprisingly, there is a strong field in Scotland. Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry, Horschel, and Rasmus and Nicolai Hojgaard will all fancy their chances. And, of course, Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton are also playing after appealing against their DP World Tour suspensions and fines. Remember that Hatton is a former winner and is in fine form - he is not at St Andrews to make up the numbers.

The split in professional golf will be highlighted once again this week with the sponsors handing out invites to a host of LIV golfers, including Brooks Koepka, Talor Gooch, Branden Grace, Louis Oosthuizen and Patrick Reed.

The Courses:

The Dunhill is played over three courses - The Old Course at St Andrews, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie. They are all classic links courses and the key will be the weather. If it remains calm and dry for four days you will see some low scoring. But if the wind blows we could witness some very high-profile golfers blowing their tops.

Tournament Winners:

It was won in 2015 by Thorbjorn Olesen, in 2016 and 2017 by Tyrrell Hatton, in 2018 by Lucas Bjerregaard, in 2019 by Victor Perez, in 2021 by Danny Willett, in 2022 by Ryan Fox and last year by Matt Fitzpatrick. There was no tournament in 2020 because of the pandemic.

Form Guide:

To those who say Rory McIlroy has had a poor season, consider this: he won the Dubai Desert Classic and Wells Fargo, took the Zurich Classic alongside Shane Lowry, came agonisingly close to winning the US Open and has just finished second at both the Irish Open and BMW PGA Championship. 

To Win:

Rory McIlroy. But only if the wind does not blow

Each Way:

Robert MacIntyre. Loves playing on home soil

Each Way:

Shane Lowry. Links specialist

Five to Follow:

Rory McIlroy. Could do with a win

Robert MacIntyre. Sure of a warm welcome

Shane Lowry. Will hope the wind does blow

Tyrrell Hatton. Knows his way round here

Tommy Fleetwood. So consistent

Five Outsiders to Watch:

Joe Dean. Exciting player

Matthew Baldwin. In good form

Marcus Armitage. Needs a big week - soon

Joost Luiten. Can putt the lights out

David Law. Underachiever