The DP World Tour returns to iconic St Andrews for the 23rd edition of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, featuring a competitive field of the world's best golfers. Who will lift the trophy at the Old Course come Sunday?
Matt Fitzpatrick returns to defend his title after a three-stroke victory over Marcus Armitage, Ryan Fox, and Matthew Southgate in 2023.
The players compete across three courses for the first three days: the Old Course St. Andrews, the Championship Course Carnoustie, and Kingsbarns Golf Links. The final round will take place on the Old Course on Sunday.
Past major winners who will tee off on Thursday include Matt Fitzpatrick, Louis Oosthuizen, Padraig Harrington, Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm, Shane Lowry, Rory McIlroy, Patrick Reed and Danny Willett.
These are our four selections that could win the title this weekend.
Rory Mcllroy
Rory McIlroy has produced superb golf in recent months, placing T4 at the RBC Canadian Open, T15 at the Memorial Tournament, 2nd at the U.S. Open, T4 at the Genesis Scottish Open, MC at the Open Championship and T5 at the Paris Olympics.
McIlroy was then T68 at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, T4 at the BMW Championship, T9 at the Tour Championship, 2nd at the Amgen Irish Open and T2 at the recent BMW PGA Championship.
Other notable results achieved by McIlroy during his season include finishing T2 at the Dubai Invitational, victory at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, T19 at the Players Championship, 3rd at the Valero Texas Open, victory at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, victory at the Wells Fargo Championship and T12 at the PGA Championship.
The world's third-ranked golfer has compiled an impressive record at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, placing 3rd in 2007, T8 in 2008, T2 in 2009, T53 in 2010, 2nd in 2011, T2 in 2014, T63 in 2017, T26 in 2019 and T4 in 2022.
McIlroy has yet to win this tournament on the DP World Tour but has claims for the title after his recent displays on the golf course.
Robert MacIntyre
Robert MacIntyre found form on the PGA Tour after struggling with his game during the opening few months of the season, placing T8 at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, MC at the CJ CUP Byron Nelson, T13 at the Myrtle Beach Classic, T8 at the PGA Championship and MC at the Charles Schwab Challenge.
He then secured victory at the RBC Canadian Open, MC at the U.S. Open, T16 at the Travelers Championship, MC at the Rocket Mortgage Classic and won the Genesis Scottish Open.
MacIntyre's form dipped after those performances, finishing T50 at the Open Championship and MC at the Wyndham Championship before regaining his touch, placing T7 at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, W/D at the BMW Championship, T17 at the Tour Championship, T5 at the Amgen Irish Open and T12 at the BMW PGA Championship.
The Scotsman has featured five times at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, placing T26 in 2019, T6 in 2020, MC in 2021, T20 in 2022 and T25 in 2023.
MacIntyre has been in solid form since his return to the DP World Tour and will fancy his chances to lift the trophy at St. Andrews this weekend.
Brooks Koepka
Brooks Koepka began his season in the LIV Golf League in decent nick, placing T5 in Mayakoba, T12 in Las Vegas, T12 in Jeddah, and 28th in Hong Kong before finishing T45 in Miami and T45 at the Masters.
Koepka returned to form soon after with results of T9 in Adelaide, victory in Singapore, T26 at the PGA Championship and T9 in Houston.
Koepka could not maintain his level of play in his subsequent four events, placing T26 at the U.S. Open, T42 in Nashville, T27 in Andalucia, and T43 at the Open Championship before bouncing back to his best, finishing T16 in the United Kingdom, winning in Greenbrier and placing T6 in Chicago.
The five-time Major winner has made four appearances at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, finishing T50 in 2013, T9 in 2014, T2 in 2015 and T8 in 2018.
Koepka has come good lately and will look to win his third trophy of the season in Scotland, as he has previously played well at this tournament.
Louis Oosthuizen
Louis Oosthuizen came close to winning on the LIV Golf Tour a few times during 2024, placing T8 in Mayakoba, 50th in Las Vegas, T2 in Jeddah, T19 in Hong Kong, T7 in Miami, 2nd in Adelaide, T22 in Singapore, W/D in Houston, 13th in Nashville, T4 in Andalucia, T6 in the United Kingdom, T8 in Greenbrier and T30 in Chicago.
Other noteworthy results achieved by Oosthuizen include victories at the Alfred Dunhill Championship and the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open back-to-back at the start of the season and 2nd at the International Series in Oman (Asian Tour).
The former Open Champion has produced average to top performances in his last eight starts at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, placing T5 in 2011, MC in 2012, MC in 2013, T6 in 2014, T53 in 2016, T36 in 2018, T10 in 2022 and T44 in 2023.
Oosthuizen has the form to win his third DP World Tour title this season at the Old Course come Sunday.