Alfred Dunhill Links Championship starts Thursday, October 4th
AFTER the euphoric atmosphere of last Sunday when Europe routed USA in the Ryder Cup the stars head to Scotland for the much more relaxed Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
A field of 168 compete over three courses – Carnoustie, Kingsbarns and the Old Course at St Andrews – along with celebrities and amateurs. They play each course over the first three days and the top 60 go round the Old Course Sunday along with the top 20 pairs.
Five Ryder Cup competitors – Americans Brooks Koepka and Tony Finau along with Europeans Tommy Fleetwood, Thorbjorn Olesen and defending champion Tyrell Hatton are in action and all will be mentally drained after last week's exertions in Paris.
I think we need to look at players in form and fresh at this time of year. Two such stars are Eddie Pepperell and Matthew Fitzpatrick.
Pepperell, with one Tour victory at the Qatar Masters, has had five top-10 finishes in his last seven starts and the time is right for his second Tour win.
Fitzpatrick has four Tour wins including when defending champion in the European Masters last month. He won by having a birdie at the first play-off hole. In fine form and looks good for a top-10 finish.
Recommended Bets
- Pepperell (28-1 ew, Sky Bet paying 8 places)
- Fitzpatrick top-10 finish (10-3, Betfair, Paddy Power)