The DP World Tour heads back to Scotland this week for the 2026 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, one of the most unique weeks on the golfing calendar. Unlike a standard strokeplay event, the tournament is played across three different courses over the first three rounds before the field is cut and the final round is contested solely on the Old Course at St Andrews.
Professionals are also paired with an amateur partner for a team competition that runs alongside the individual event, adding to the relaxed, celebrity-studded feel of the week. With a strong field assembled fresh off Wentworth and Paris, this promises to be another entertaining edition of a tournament steeped in history.
Courses
Below is a short look at each of the three courses used this week:
Old Course at St Andrews
The most famous course in golf, the Old Course is used for the final round and its unique double greens, blind tee shots and the iconic Road Hole make it a true test of course management as much as ball-striking. Players comfortable navigating its quirks, and holing putts on its notoriously tricky greens, tend to go deep here.
Carnoustie
Widely regarded as one of the toughest courses on the Open rota, Carnoustie demands precision off the tee and patience through the closing stretch, where the Barry Burn comes into play on both the 17th and 18th. It can bite hard if the wind picks up, so it tends to favour players with a strong short game and nerve under pressure.
Kingsbarns
The newest of the three venues, Kingsbarns is a stunning coastal links that offers players the best birdie chances of the week thanks to its wide fairways and generous greens. Low scores are common here, so those who get their week started with a strong round at Kingsbarns can build an early cushion heading into the tougher tests at Carnoustie and St Andrews.
Past Winners
2025 Robert MacIntyre (Scotland) -18 4 strokes
2024 Tyrrell Hatton (England) -24 1 stroke
2023 Matt Fitzpatrick (England) -19 3 strokes
2022 Ryan Fox (New Zealand) -15 1 stroke
2021 Danny Willett (England) -18 2 strokes
Golf Playoff Refund
Bets must be placed before the start of round 1.
Pre-Match Bets only.
Single / Straight bets only.
Free Bets do not qualify for this offer.
Refund must be claimed within 24 hours of the tournament finishing.
Free Bet vouchers received must be used within 7 days.
Max refund per account per day in Free Bets:
- Max refund per account per day – R5,000
- Max refund for Black card members per day – R7,500
- Max refund for Super Black card members per day – R10,000
Free Bets terms and conditions apply.
Simply email promotions@wsb.co.za with Subject ‘Golf Playoff’ to claim your refund within 24 hours of the tournament finishing.
The Field
Matt Fitzpatrick heads the market as the form horse of the week after his win in Paris last time out, with home favourite Tommy Fleetwood and two-time former champion Tyrrell Hatton not far behind. Defending champion Robert MacIntyre is also right up at the top of the betting, while Alex Noren, Lucas Herbert and Alex Fitzpatrick head up the next tier of contenders
Betting (2026 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship) – Click here to bet
Matt Fitzpatrick 8.00
Tommy Fleetwood 11.00
Tyrrell Hatton 13.00
Robert MacIntyre 13.00
Alex Noren 21.00
Alex Fitzpatrick 21.00
Lucas Herbert 21.00
SELECTIONS:
Matt Fitzpatrick at 8.00
Our first pick of the week is the man in form. Fitzpatrick comes into this week off the back of a brilliant performance at the Open de France where he cruised to victory by three shots. This was his fourth win of the season, with three wins coming earlier on the PGA Tour.
Before his win last weekend, he was also able to put in another solid performance at Wentworth to finish sixth at the BMW PGA Championship. Fitzpatrick won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship back in 2023 and knows exactly what it takes to win around these three courses. With his current form, and having lifted the trophy here before, he looks in prime position to do it again this week.
Suggested bet: Matt Fitzpatrick each way at 8.00
Tyrrell Hatton at 13.00
Out of the many previews we have written this year, this has to be one of the most impressive records at a tournament for any golfer. Since 2016, Tyrrell Hatton’s form at the Alfred Dunhill has been outstanding, with three wins in 2016, 2017 and 2024, plus runner-up finishes in 2018 and 2021. Hatton will be returning to the tournament a bit low on form but knowing exactly what it takes to win around these three courses.
Suggested bet: Tyrrell Hatton each way at 13.00
Jacob Skov Olesen at 34.00
Olesen is another player who enters this week in decent form although he did miss the cut at the BMW in his last start. The Dane finished ninth at the Danish Golf Championship, 16th at the Nexo Championship, runner-up at the British Masters and T7 at the Irish Open, a run of results that shows he is knocking on the door of a maiden DP World Tour title.
At odds of 34.00 he looks a decent price given how consistently he has been putting himself in contention and the fact that he was T5 here last year.
Suggested bet: Jacob Skov Olesen each way at 34.00
Click here for all Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 2026 Markets
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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