ST ANDREWS, October 2, 2012 – The St Andrews night sky is set to come alive once again with a dazzling firework display, on the eve of the final day’s play in this year’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
The stunning fireworks spectacle – an annual favourite with golfers, spectators and St Andrews residents alike – will begin at 8.25pm this Saturday evening ( October 6).
The dazzling display will take place on the West Sands, adjacent to the Old Course. It will consist of shells up to 12″ in diameter, roman candles, mines and rockets, which will be synchronised to music.
All residents and visitors in the town are invited to watch the show, which will be best viewed from the Links Road, the roadway running behind the 17th green on the Old Course, and from the track in front of the Old Course Hotel.
The prestigious Alfred Dunhill Links Championship – played over three of the world’s best known and respected links courses – the Old Course at St Andrews, the Championship Course at Carnoustie and the highly regarded Kingsbarns Golf Links – begins on Thursday (October 4). The final round will be played on the Old Course on Sunday (October 7).
The Championship has a unique format. With a prize fund of US$5 million, it incorporates two separate competitions – an individual professional tournament for the world’s leading golfers and a team event in which they are paired with some of the most celebrated amateurs.
The amateurs will be joining a world-class field which includes Ryder Cup stars Martin Kaymer, Peter Hanson and Scotland’s Paul Lawrie, along with all four of the European Team vice-captains – Thomas Bjorn, Darren Clarke, Miguel Angel Jim enez and Paul McGinley. Also playing is world No 13 Dustin Johnson, one of the stars of the United States team, who is taking part in his second Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, where he is partnering his brother Austin Johnson in the Team Championship.
There are no fewer than ten Major Championship winners in the field. In addition to Kaymer, Lawrie and Clarke, current Open champion Ernie Els leads a strong South African contingent, including 2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen and 2011 US Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, while other Major winners playing are Americans Rich Beem and Shaun Micheel and New Zealand’s Michael Campbell. Ireland’s three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington will be bidding for a unique third Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, having taken the title in 2002 and 2006
Hollywood star Bill Murray, forever remembered by golf fans for his role as the greenkeeper in the film Caddyshack, is one of a sparkling group of amateurs who will be joining the professionals for the Championship. Also playing are Hollywood actor Greg Kinnear and rock music legends Huey Lewis and Bon Jovi drummer Tico Torres, plus a host of great sports stars, including Olympic and Paralympic gold medal heroes Michael Phelps and Oscar Pistorius.
In a strong turn-out of sports stars, Phelps and Pistorius will be joined by former Olympic rowing legends Sir Matthew Pinsent and Sir Steve Redgrave, Dutch football legends Johan Cruyff and Ruud Gullit, former England player Jamie Redknapp, Scottish defender Alan Hansen, a strong team of cricketers in Sir Ian Botham, B rian Lara, Andrew Strauss, Steve Waugh and Shane Warne and rugby’s Schalk Brits, Morné du Plessis and Gavin Hastings.
Entrance to the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship will be FREE at all three courses on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. A ticket price of £15 (concessionary £10) will be charged for the final day’s play over the Old Course on Sunday, October 7. Entry for under 16s and students is free. Tickets are available through the ticket hotline on 0844 581 4922 or at the entrance gates.
