Amateur golfers are being offered the chance of a lifetime to play in the same tournament as some of the world’s leading professionals in the 2010 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
The opportunity to take part in this prestigious invitation-only tournament held over the Old Course at St Andrews, the Championship Course at Carnoustie and the highly regarded Kingsbarns Golf Links from October 7-10 is every golfer’s dream.
This exclusive amateur playing place in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship – celebrating its 10th year - is up for auction throughwww.ebay.co.uk- from 18.00hrs GMT today, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, until 18.00hrs GMT on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9.
Funds raised from the auction will be donated to the St Andrews-based Pilgrim Foundation, a charity committed to the restoration of historic monuments and buildings in the Home of Golf. The Foundation’s patrons include Sir Sean Connery, Colin Montgomerie, Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros, Arnold Palmer, Sam Torrance, Tony Jacklin and TV commentator Peter Alliss.
Bids can be made by visitingwww.ebay.co.ukand searching for ‘Alfred Dunhill Links Championship’.
The winning bidder will be treated to the very best of Alfred Dunhill’s world famous hospitality. The package includes one amateur place in the 2010 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, five nights accommodation for two at an official tournament hotel (breakfast included), airport transfers from Edinburgh and invitations to the championship's exclusive social events as honoured guests.
The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is unique. With a prize fund of US$5 million, it incorporates two separate competitions - an individual professional tournament for the world's leading golfers and a team event in which they are paired with some of the most celebrated amateurs.
Three of this year’s major championship winners, Louis Oosthuizen (The Open), Graeme McDowell (US Open) and Martin Kaymer (US PGA) will be among the world class field of professionals competing.
Over the years the Championship has attracted a strong international field including: Lee Westwood, current world No 3; Rory McIlroy, world No 7; Ernie Els, world No 9; Paul Casey, world No 8; Luke Donald, world No 11; Ian Poulter, world No 12; and major championship winners Padraig Harrington, Retief Goosen, Fred Couples and Trevor Immelman.
Among the celebrities who took part last year were film and TV stars Hugh Grant, Greg Kinnear, George Lopez, Kyle MacLachlan, John O’Hurley and Aidan Quinn, and music legends Don Felder, co-writer of Hotel California from the Eagles, Huey Lewis and American country singer Clay Walker.
Four of Britain’s sporting knights – Sir Ian Botham, Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Matthew Pinsent and Sir Steve Redgrave - led a locker room full of sporting heroes, including Dutch football legends Johann Cruyff and Ruud Gullit, former England player Jamie Redknapp and Scottish star Alan Hansen. Cricketers Mark Nicholas and Michael Vaughan of England and Steve Waugh and Shane Warne of Australia also played.
