Alfred Dunhill Links Championship: Steve Palmer's St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns course guides, start time, odds and how to watch

Don't miss Steve Palmer's top tips for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, available early to Racing Post+ subscribers from 2pm Tuesday.

Subscribers can access Steve's previews via our Tipping package. Click here to join today and use promo code PALMER10 to get the first month for just £10.

Steve has nailed 12 outright winners this year at 66-1, 60-1, 40-1 (three times), 33-1, 22-1, 20-1 (twice), 9-1, 8-1 and 11-4. He was also on target at the Ryder Cup, tipping Europe at 7-4. 

Where is the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship?

The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship will be held in Scotland, with two rounds at St Andrews (Fife) and one each at Carnoustie (Angus) and Kingsbarns (Fife)

When does the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship start?

The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship starts at 9am BST on Thursday

Where can I watch the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship?

Live on Sky Sports Main Event and Golf from 12pm on Thursday

St Andrews, Carnoustie & Kingsbarns course details

Lengths

St Andrews 7,318 yards; Carnoustie 7,402 yards; Kingsbarns 7,227 yards – All Par 72 

Course type

Links

Course records

72 holes of Dunhill Links Championship 264 Tyrrell Hatton (2017, 2024) 

18 holes – St Andrews 61 Ross Fisher (2017), Romain Langasque (2022), Tyrrell Hatton (2024) 

18 holes – Carnoustie 64 Colin Montgomerie (1995 Scottish Open), Peter O'Malley (2007), Paul Lawrie (2007), Richard Green (2007 Open), Steve Stricker (2007 Open), Shane Lowry (2013), Alex Noren (2016), Tapio Pulkkanen (2018), Tyrrell Hatton (2021), Adri Arnaus (2023), Darius van Driel (2023)

18 holes – Kingsbarns 60 Branden Grace (2012), Peter Uihlein (2013)

Course overview

This Pro-Am features two rounds at St Andrews and one each at Carnoustie and Kingsbarns. There is a round at each of the three links before a cut is made and the leaders tee up on Sunday at St Andrews. 

The host course, with its generous fairways and a few driveable par fours, is easy in calm conditions. But St Andrews can be much tougher in strong winds. It staged the Open in 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2022. 

Carnoustie is by far the most difficult course – the long, demanding monster brought many players to their knees in the 1999, 2007 and 2018 Opens. 

Kingsbarns is the shortest venue and the only one with four par-fives, so big-hitters have an opportunity to make hay. 

All three tracks are set up much easier than usual to give the amateurs a chance

St Andrews is one of the sport's most iconic venuesCredit: Design Pics Editorial/Universal

What will it take to win the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship?

Those with banks of links experience from the British and Irish amateur scene, the Open and this event (which was first staged in 2001) will be best prepared. 

Links masters possess a range of shots to handle the wind and quirky terrain. A sound temperament is required to deal with the amateur element of this event, with rounds taking an age to complete

Key attribute for the three courses

Touch/putting

Palmer's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship Key stat

Seven of the last 11 Dunhill Links have been won by an Englishman

Alfred Dunhill Links Championship weather forecast

Spells of light rain and moderate breezes for the first two days, before a windy Saturday which may have gusts so strong that play is delayed. Clear but breezy on Sunday

What is the prize money for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship?

$5m ($833,500 to the winner)

Who is in the field for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship?

Field size

168

Highest-ranked players in field (world ranking in brackets)

Tommy Fleetwood (7), Robert MacIntyre (9), Tyrrell Hatton (25), Matt Fitzpatrick (29), Patrick Reed (47)

The cut

Top 60 and ties qualify for round four

Course winners taking part (St Andrews)

Padraig Harrington (twice), Louis Oosthuizen, Martin Kaymer, Oliver Wilson, Tyrrell Hatton (three times), Lucas Bjerregaard, Danny Willett, Cameron Smith, Matt Fitzpatrick

Who won the 2024 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship?

Tyrrell Hatton completed a Dunhill Links hat-trick, reaching 24 under par again to match his own 72-hole Dunhill record

Click for free bets and betting offers from the Racing Post

Commercial notice: This article contains affiliate links. Offers are handpicked and come from operators our experts have first-hand experience of. Opening an account via one of these links will earn revenue for the Racing Post, which will be used to continue producing our award-winning coverage of horseracing and sports betting.