European Tour
Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
Carnoustie Golf Links
Old Course
Kingsbarns
Fife, Scotland
The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is a great event which fell this year between the Ryder Cup and the first week of the 2014-2015 PGA Tour season. Yes, believe it or not, the PGA Tour season starts this week.
The Dunhill is a unique competition centered in the kingdom of Fife, Scotland. Fife is the home of St. Andrews and its famous seven courses. Three of those amazing courses are used in the Dunhill Links Championship: the Old Course, Kingsbarns, and Carnoustie Golf Links. Play is rotated between the courses.
Photo courtesy of Tony Korologos at HookedOnGolfBlog.com
Temperatures were a bit brisk with players needing to wear sweaters and beanies. But that’s what golf in scotland is about. Weather rolled in producing cold temperatures, rain and wind.
Oliver Wilson had played in 227 European Tour events without a victory, prior to the Dunhill Links Championship. 228 was the magic number for Wilson, who hit an incredible shot on the 16th hole at the Old Course in the final round. The ensuing birdie on the 16th would make the difference for Wilson, who finished one stroke ahead of world #1 Rory McIlory, Richie Ramsay, and Tommy Fleetwood.
Said Wilson about the shot on 16, “The shot I hit into 16 was probably the best shot of my life.”
Even more amazing for Wilson was the fact that he was in the field on a sponsor’s invitation. The last sponsor’s invite to win on the European Tour was Henrik Stenson at the 2012 Open Championship. Perhaps this marks a similar springboard. Stenson would win the FedEx Cup and the Race to Dubai Cup in the same year.
