THE BIG SCREEN DISPLAYS THE NEWS OF PLAY BEING ABANDONED ON SATURDAY - IMAGE MATT HOOPER
7 OCTOBER, 2023 - SHANK MEDIA, BY MATT HOOPER: THE 2023 ALFRED DUNHILL LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP WILL FINISH ON MONDAY, IT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED.
The leading 60 professionals and 20 teams following Sunday's third round will compete in the final round on Monday 9 October
Saturday's play across all three courses was washed out due to the storms battering Scotland, resulting in flooding
Tournament Director Mikael Eriksson said: “We always have a number of contingencies in the case of adverse weather conditions, and on this occasion the decision has been made alongside the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship Committee to continue the tournament into Monday.
“We endeavour to play 72 holes if possible, and taking into consideration all factors, a Monday finished was deemed to be the preferred outcome. This will preserve the format of the tournament, with all competitors having the opportunity to play one round over each course, and the final round of both the Individual and Team events taking place at the Old Course after the third round cut.”
THIS WAS NEVER GOING TO BE AN EASY DECISION FOR THE ORGANISERS, GIVEN THE STRUCTURE OF THE TOURNAMENT - PLAYED OVER THREE COURSES. THERE WAS SPECULATION FROM SOME OF THE PUBLIC THAT THE CHAMPIONSHIP WOULD BE CUT TO 54 HOLES, BUT THAT CARRIED SEVERAL SIGNIFICANT ISSUES. WHAT IF THE CHAMPIONSHIP FINISHED IN A TIE? WHERE WOULD THE PLAYOFF BE PLAYED, AND HOW WOULD PLAYERS GET FROM CARNOUSTIE OR KINGSBARNS TO ST ANDREWS IN TIME FOR A PLAYOFF? WOULD THE WINNER, IF THEY WERE PLAYING AT CARNOUSTIE, HAVE TO COME TO ST ANDREWS FOR THE PRESENTATION?
POTENTIALLY SPECTATORS AT THE OLD COURSE COULD BE STOOD THERE WONDERING WHO HAD WON, AND HOW, AND THERE WAS ALSO TELEVISION TO CONSIDER, AND HOW TO COVER A FRAGMENTED FINAL ROUND. SO THE BEST DECISION HAS BEEN MADE, AND THE EVENT WILL BE PLAYED OVER 72 HOLES, WHICH SHOULD SURELY SATISFY THE PURISTS GIVEN THEIR ANIMOSITY TOWARDS LIV GOLF AND THEIR 54-HOLE TOURNAMENTS.
SO, INSTEAD OF THERE BEING A TRADITIONAL 'SUPER SATURDAY AT ST ANDREWS' WE WILL HAVE A SUPER SUNDAY FOLLOWED BY A MAGIC MONDAY, AND YOU CAN FOLLOW IT ALL ACROSS SHANK, VIA INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, X AND THE WEBSITE. WE WILL HAVE TIKTOK CONTENT TO FOLLOW THE EVENT OVER THE COMING DAYS.
I WILL BE ON SITE FROM 0830 ON SUNDAY TO COVER SOME OF THE BIG NAMES, INCLUDING LEADER MATT FITZPATRICK, AND THE LIKES OF GARETH BALE AND CATHERINE ZETA-JONES.
