Alfred Dunhill Links Golf Championship - 01 Oct 2009 - 04 Oct 2009

[Jonesy Knows]

Alfred Dunhill Links Championship Old Course, St Andrews, Carnoustie & Kingsbarns Fife, Scotland 01 Oct 2009 - 04 Oct 2009 First played 2001 Past winners 2001 - Paul Lawrie 2002 - Padraig Harrington 2003 - Lee Westwood 2004 - Stephen Gallagher 2005 - Colin Montgomerie 2006 - Padraig Harrington 2007 - Nick Dougherty 2008 - Robert Karlsson Consecutive wins None Youngest winner Nick Dougherty, 25 and 136 days, 2007 Oldest winner Colin Montgomerie, 42 and 101 days, 2005 Lowest 18 hole score 62 (-10), Brian Davis (St Andrews); Lee Westwood (Kingsbarns), 2003; Graeme McDowell (St Andrews), 2004 Lowest first 18 hole score 62 (-10), Graeme McDowell, 2004 Lowest first 36 hole score 130 (-14), David Howell, 2004 Lowest first 54 hole score 199 (-17), Luke Donald, 2004; Nick Dougherty, 2007 Lowest 72 hole score 267 (-21), Lee Westwood, 2003 Lowest under par winning score 267 (-21), Lee Westwood, 2003 Lowest final round by a winner 65 (-7), Robert Karlsson, 2008 Wire-to-wire winners None Largest 18 hole lead 3 shots, Graeme McDowell, 2004 Largest 36 hole lead 3 shots, Bradley Dredge, 2006 Largest 54 hole lead 5 shots, Kenneth Ferrie, 2005 Largest winning margin 5 shots, Padraig Harrington, 2006 Biggest final round comeback by a winner 5 shots, Colin Montgomerie, 2005 Playoffs Padraig Harrington beat Eduardo Romero, 2002 Stephen Gallacher beat Graeme McDowell, 2004 Robert Karlsson beat Ross Fisher and Martin Kaymer, 2008 Albatross Colin Montgomerie, Hole 3, Round 2 (Kingsbarns), 2002 Lee Westwood, Hole 9, Round 3 (Kingsbarns), 2003 Steen Tinning, Hole 3, Round 3 (Kingsbarns), 2003 Holes-in-one James Kingston, Hole 6, Round 1 (Kingsbarns), 2002 Anders Forsbrand, Hole 13, Round 2 (Carnoustie), 2002 Raphaël Jacquelin, Hole 16, Round 3 (Carnoustie), 2002 Henrik Bjornstad, Hole 13, Round 1 (Carnoustie), 2003 Garry Houston, Hole 2, Round 1 (Kingsbarns), 2005 Paul Eales, Hole 2, Round 1 (Kingsbarns), 2005 Unho Park, Hole 8, Round 2 (Kingsbarns), 2008 Low cut 211 (-5), 2003 and 2007 High cut 221 (+5), 2008 The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at the home of golf in St Andrews welcomes a wealth of stars, both home grown and international, and is generally viewed as one of the European Tour's showcase events. With one of the biggest prize pots of the year on offer for a European event, Scotland is treated to the presence of Ernie Els, Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy and returning champ Robert Karlsson, but it's Harrington who deserves most respect. Not least because he's been a regular main player at virtually every PGA Tour over the past few months, including a very respectable fourth place in the past week's TOUR Championship. Throw in the fact that he's already won this very title two times (2002 and 2006) then you begin to get the feeling that Padraig is about to explode into action on one of his favourite courses. He better not think it's in the bag already though (as if he would) with Lee Westwood one of those looking to make a real impact this week. Westwood is chasing hard in the Race to Dubai rankings and he knows that with a victory here he can jump right above Martin Kaymer at the head of the standings. Westwood, easily has the ability to challenge especially if you remember his magnificent performance right back in 2003. The Worksop born star posted the best ever aggregate total, finishing the tournament on an eye watering 21 under, two shots better than any other total in history. If he can just find a little bit of that form then he has to be within a shout, but, one thing noting is Westwood's often unpredictable form. He's currently fourth on the Race to Dubai money list yet he's played more tournaments than anybody else in the top seven - but when he's on, he's on and can be one of the front runners in any event. Another I'll be looking out for is last year's winner Karlsson, who edged out Ross Fisher and Martin Kaymer in an epic three way play-off after clawing his way back into contention on the final day. That win pushed Karlsson up to number one on the European money list for 2008 but unfortunately not all has gone to plan for the big Dane this year. The Alfred Dunhill marks Karlsson's return to the Tour after a four month lay-off from an eye injury and, if he got rid of the rust at last week's Vivendi Trophy, then he could prove to be a decent each way bet. (Sources: Europeantour.com & williamhill.com) It'll be a hard ask of Harrington to come here and record a victory even if it is one of his favourite courses. Jet Setting to and fro from europe to america to play the bigger tournaments with the best has had an obvious detremental effect for the past couple of years especially in this tournament. I personally had been expecting Harrington to have registered in one of the bigger tournaments over the pond in the last or month or so having got himself into contention in quite a few tournaments however he has been found wanting on the final day and for this reason I can't expect him to win this tournament at the likely prohibitive odds of 8/1 favourite. So who can we expect to be competitive enough at a decent price to go close here? Predictions: OUTIRGHT Lee Westwood @15.00 EW Paddypower **** (1/4 odds 1,2,3,4,5) Top drawer for me at the odds has to be Lee Westwood who has given himself a bit of a rest to focus for this tournament and a real tilt at The European Order Of Merit. He missed the Vivendi Tournament last week to prepare for this and his last competitive start was in The Mercedes Benz in Germany on 10 Sept where he finished 6th. He'll be a much fresher player than most here and has a real impetus to overhaul Kaymer (who won't be here due to injury) in the Race To Dubai. He won this event here in 03, finished 6th last year, 8th in 06, 7th in 05, & 5th in 04. Rory McIlroy @12.00 EW Paddypower *** He'll be in a bouyant mood after being apart of the winning GB & Ireland Vivendi Team who won a very unexpectedly! He is another who'll be looking to over haul Kaymer for the Race To Dubai as he currently sits in 3rd spot in the standings 1 place ahead of Westwood. McIlroy is the great new hope from these shores to try and dismantle the dominance of Tiger on the USPGA Tour as he considers entry into the tour next year. He has form here also in a relatively short career he finished 3rd in 07 and 8th here last year. Simon Dyson @41.00 EW Paddypower ** A guy who has been in a rich vein of form recently and like Mcilroy comes from the team that won the Vivendi. His best finish here was back in 2006 when he finished 8th which was oddly enough the same year he won the KLM Open like he did this year! He recently finished 3rd in The Mercedez Benz, 7th at The Omega and won The KLM. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- TOP 10 Finish Lee Westwood @2.38 Win Paddypower ***** He has 5 top 10 finishes in this event since it's inception in 2001 which includes winning it in 03. Rory McIlroy @2.25 Win Paddypower **** Has only ever competed twice here and finished 3rd in 07 & 8th in 08.

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[Jonesy Knows]

Re: Alfred Dunhill Links Golf Championship - 01 Oct 2009 - 04 Oct 2009 My bets are looking very good for the weekend :dude McIlroy is Co Leader on -11 Dyson is 1 shot back on -10 Westwood recovers after a horrendous 1st round and is on -4 :clap