Fantasy League: Alfred Dunhill Links Championship preview

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The Today’s Golfer Fantasy Golf game, in association with Your Golf Travel, returns to the European Tour this week for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, held over three of Scotland’s finest links courses: Carnoustie, Kingsbarns and St Andrews.

It’s a unique event on the European Tour calendar, where the pros mix with the world’s top golfing celebrities vying for the hefty $5m prize fund. Northern Ireland’s Michael Hoey took the spoils last year by two shots from countryman Rory McIlroy.

Only three of Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup team will be teeing it up after Lee Westwood withdrew on Monday. Peter Hanson, Martin Kaymer and Paul Lawrie will play along with losing USA team member Dustin Johnson.

The weather is set to be pretty fair for the majority of the tournament so being a specialist in harsh links conditions won’t be as much of an advantage as it has been in previous years.

Here is TG’s six-man team for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship:

Jamie Donaldson, $1.2m
Already a winner on a links course this year at the Irish Open at Royal Portrush, Donaldson also has top tens in two of his last four starts, finished tied-ninth here last year and offers great value at $1.2m.

Peter Hanson, $2m
Hanson may not have picked up any points for his team at Medinah but he got an unlucky draw against the inspired pairing of Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson in the Friday fourballs and Jason Dufner in the singles. Hanson is in good form having won two weeks ago at the KLM Open and finished tied-ninth here last year.

Martin Kaymer, $4m
The winner of the event in 2010 is seeing resurgence in his form, following a tied-fifth in his last European Tour start at the Italian Open with a crucial Ryder Cup singles victory over Steve Stricker to retain the Ryder Cup for Europe.

Padraig Harrington, $2m
Despite his Ryder Cup wildcard snub, Harrington hasn’t missed a cut since May and clearly loves links golf as a two-time Open Champion, one of which came at Carnoustie. He also finished eighth here last year.

Louis Oosthuizen, $2.6m
The South African won his Open Championship title at St Andrews in 2010 and finished tied fifth here last year. He also has two wins this year along with five other top tens and is ranked 12th in the world.

Charl Schwartzel, $3.2m
After recovering from injury, the South African hasn’t missed a cut since the Open Championship and also finished tied ninth here last year. He’ll be eager to add a title his four top tens earlier in the season.

> You can see a full list of all the golfers playing this week and their prices by clicking here.

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