US acting legend signs up for Dunhill Links

Hollywood superstar Andy Garcia, former boxing world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko and English cricket captain Joe Root are among the latest amateurs to confirm they are taking part in this week’s 20th Anniversary Alfred Dunhill Links Championships.

Also playing in the prestigious event are AC Milan and Chelsea football star Andriy Shevchenko, seven-time world snooker champion Stephen Hendry and former England cricketers Michael Vaughan and Darren Gough.

The professional line-up this week includes European Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington, three of his players, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton and Shane Lowry, and vice-captains Luke Donald and Martin Kaymer.

They are joined by Javier Ballesteros, son of the great Seve Ballesteros, who is playing St Andrews for the first time in a professional event. It is ten years this year since his father died and this is sure to be an emotional few days for him.

Seve, who famously won the Open Championship at St Andrews in 1984, described it as “the happiest moment of my whole sporting life.”

Talking on the actual anniversary of his father’s death in May, Javier told BBC Sport: “He won five Majors, helped Europe to five Ryder Cups and has a record 50 victories on the European Tour, but I can tell you he was a much better dad than he was a golfer, so he was pretty good.

“I wish I could have seen his victories live. I wish I could have been at St Andrews when he won The Open in 1984 or at Royal Lytham in 1988. The best I saw was when I caddied for him at the 2006 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool at Hoylake. That was another level, to see the love of the fans, it was just fantastic.”

Among the other big names in the field are defending champion Victor Perez, Billy Horschel, Danny Willett, Branden Grace and Scotland’s top ranked player Robert MacIntyre, who leads a strong contingent of his compatriots including Grant Forrest and Calum Hill who have both been winners this year.

The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, incorporating two separate competitions - an individual Professional Championship for the world's leading golfers and the Team Championship, in which the pro’s are paired with amateur players, creating a unique atmosphere and camaraderie – is a celebration of Links golf and is staged over three world-famous courses: the Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.

Alfred Dunhill has supported golf at St Andrews for over 35 years, through the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and previously the Alfred Dunhill Cup. Millions have been raised for charity in that time through the work of the Alfred Dunhill Links Foundation.

Admission is FREE for spectators over the first three days. Final day tickets for the Old Course St Andrews on Sunday, October 3, are available for £20 (Concessions £15).

Please note that because of covid regulations, spectator capacity on each course will be capped at 4,000 on each of the four days. Entry will only be permitted to ticket holders.