The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is underway, with most of the harsh weather that was forecast holding off to produce a low-scoring day at the top of the leaderboard. The competition has entered its 40th year, and is a season highlight for many of the pros, attracting a multitude of A-list celebrities who are able to compete as amateur golfers.
A highlight of the year
The Dunhill (as it is better known) runs simultaneously as a Pro Tournament and a Pro-Am event, with all 168 professional golfers paired with an amateur throughout the week. Each pairing will play a round at each of these three courses: the Old Course (St Andrews), Carnoustie, and Kingsbarns – with the Sunday finish taking place solely at Kingsbarns, after a Saturday cut.
The list of notable celebrities to have taken part in the tournament is vast, including the likes of Gareth Bale, Billy Murray, and Andy Garcia.
In terms of the pros, the Dunhill boasts pretty much every big name in the game: Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm – you name them, they’ve most likely played. Of the professionals playing this year, Tommy Fleetwood, Brooks Koepka, and the defending champion, Tyrell Hatton, are the standouts.
One of the big names returning to St Andrews this year is the English broadcaster, Piers Morgan. As a regular of the competition, Morgan’s love for this week is evident. Golf Today took the chance to chat to him at the driving range, moments before he set off for his first round of the tournament, kicking off at the Old Course.
“He’s my boy.” Matty Jordan is back
Morgan came agonisingly close to making the cut last year, as he and his pro partner, Matthew Jordan, missed out by one shot. Our conversation began with the media personality painfully reliving Jordan’s missed put on the 18th at Kingsbarns – a difficult 18-footer, “snaking downhill”.
“I’d have had bragging rights for the rest of my natural life. But, he missed it by an inch, and the rest is ignominious history.”
This week, Morgan is paired again with ‘Matty’ Jordan, best known for his top ten finish at the Open Championship, back in 2023.
“The reason I wanted to play with him (Jordan) again is because he’s a great links player, and he’s also from Liverpool, so this is like a summer’s day for him. He’s used to terrible weather. So I’m thinking a combination of: great links play, terrible weather, and a really good record in things like the Open. He’s my boy”, Morgan explained whilst adding that “Matty is going to have to improve his putting – he only shot a 63 that day (during the missed cut last year)! Should’ve been a 62.”
Jordan did indeed improve his putting today, putting together a clinic for his partner, finishing (ironically) with a solo round of 63 (-9), leaving him joint top of the professional leaderboard, with Ryan Brehm and Darius Van Driel, who both played at Kingsbarns today. Morgan himself played brilliantly, masterfully playing the crowd as he contributed frequently, leaving his pairing in second place, at -14.
Post round thoughts
Speaking after the round, his swagger was very much present.
“Very happy with that. Very happy. Nice ying and hanging with my pro, Matty. He obviously played out of his skin again. And yeah, game on… This time, we mean business.”
Morgan’s appreciation of the Old Course was clear to see. “It’s the home of golf – you can’t get away from that. This is where it all started. So I think, playing today in a tournament, and I still pinch myself that I’m allowed to do this… it was magic out there!”
The perfect escape – if you score well…
For many, golf is the perfect escape. It can provide people with a break from the stresses of everyday life – a sanctuary where you can enjoy yourself with friends whilst connecting with the great outdoors. Whilst taking a slightly more competitive stance, accentuated by this week’s tournament, Morgan also uses golf as a way to disconnect from his professional life.
“It’s just when you are out there, you don’t care about work or anything really. All you care about is ‘can you score’. You play in a tournament surrounded by the best players in the world, but actually in a Pro Am – they take your score! And that’s the game. That’s what we’re all here for. We have fun – it’s a great week – but ultimately, you want to do yourself proud, whatever handicap you are off. You just want to make sure that you score ok, then you can rest easy.”
Having played today with Sir AP McCoy and his partner Tom McKibbin (-7), Morgan is set to play alongside Sir Steve Redgrave and Peter Jones, later on this week…
“I’ve got two of the greatest sportsmen in history, and I‘ve got a great entrepreneur. It’s a great mix of amateurs, and hopefully we’ll have some fun.”
Tomorrow, it’s off to Carnoustie for Morgan, where he will tee it up alongside Peter Jones, as he looks to move into the top spot heading into the weekend.
