Features

Celebrities join tour ranks

Author: John Harris
Date: 01/10/2009
Golf betting

Hugh Grant, Ronan Keating, Sir Ian Botham and Sir Steve Redgrave all have two things in common.

Firstly, they will all take part in this week's Dunhill Links Championship.

Secondly, they all agree that standing on the first tee at St Andrews is far more nerve-wracking than taking part in any Hollywood blockbuster, live concert, Ashes Test match or Olympic Games.

This week's event on the European Tour takes willing celebrity golfers out of their comfort zones as they take on - alongside their professional partners - the challenge of a handful of the most famous links courses in the Home of Golf.

The Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns will play host to one of the highlights on the tour's late-season schedule.

But while the addition of amateur celebrities brings a unique flavour to this particular event, it shouldn't be forgotten that to the European Tour professionals this is a vital week on the calendar.

Running alongside the amateur team pairs event is a lucrative and ultra-competitive regular tour competition.

Twelve months ago, Robert Karlsson's victory in three-man a play-off at St Andrews not only secured a tour win, but it also ensured that the Swede ended the season as Europe's number one golfer.

So while there will be plenty of time for fun and games when the celebrities are in action on the first three days, there is a serious undertone to an event which has a prize fund of five million euros.

The pot of cash on offer also brings some of the tour's leading lights out of their late-summer hibernation, with the likes of Major champions Ernie Els and Trevor Immelman plus online betting favourite Padraig Harrington all taking part.

Karlsson, Lee Westwood, Soren Hansen, Soren Kjeldson and Ross Fisher are also in the field as the race to end the season at the top of the European Tour's money list hots up.

Who will win the Dunhill Links Championship - Latest Golf Betting

One to watch could be Els who always seems to play well at the Dunhill Links.

The easy-going South African has twice finished runner-up in this event - plus he's had five top 10s in his 10 appearances - and has shown signs this season of emerging from a two-year career slump.

There will also be no taking his eye off the ball as Els' amateur partner is always his father, Neels.

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