Hollywood A-listers to star at Dunhill Links
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Hollywood stars Andy Garcia (pictured right) and Hugh Grant head an A-list group of showbiz legends for next week’s prestigious Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews.
Among the other big names teeing off with them will be Don Felder from The Eagles, Riverdance idol Michael Flatley, rock star Huey Lewis, Kyle MacLachlan of Desperate Housewives fame and actors James Nesbitt and Luke Wilson.
Andy Garcia, who has appeared in many successful films, including The Untouchables, The Godfather III, Internal Affairs, Hero, When a Man Loves a Woman, Things To Do in Denver When You’re Dead, Night Falls On Manhattan and Desperate Measures, said he was delighted to be coming back to St Andrews to play in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
“I love the place, the people and the atmosphere. It’s a great privilege and I am looking forward to an excellent week on some of the greatest links courses in the world. Hoping the links won’t accentuate my kinks,” he said.
Rock star Huey Lewis, who will be playing in the Championship in the middle of a concert tour of the US and UK with his band The News, said: “It is the amateur equivalent of the Open Championship, wonderful courses, great format. It’s my favourite tournament. I love the banter with the galleries. Everything they say about golf fans in Scotland is true. If you hit a good shot, you’ll get applause.”
The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, which celebrates links golf at its finest, is 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.
With a prize fund of US$5 million, the Championship incorporates two separate competitions – an individual professional tournament for the world’s leading golfers and a team event in which the professionals are paired with some of the most celebrated amateur golfers which creates a unique atmosphere.
The showbiz amateurs will be joining a world-class field of professionals with no fewer than 12 Major Champions, including Ernie Els, Darren Clarke, Retief Goosen, Padraig Harrington, Martin Kaymer, Paul Lawrie, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and Vijay Singh.
Defending champion Branden Grace will also be returning to St Andrews, hoping to become the first golfer to win back-to-back Alfred Dunhill Links titles.
Entrance to the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship will be FREE at all three courses on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. A ticket price of £20 (concessionary £15) will be charged for the final day’s play over the Old Course on Sunday, September 29. Entry for under 16s and students is free. Tickets are available through the ticket hotline on 0870 010 9021 or at the entrance gates.
