There are plenty of golf tournaments that can claim a famous course as their backdrop. The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is unusual because its backdrop changes during the week. Far fewer ask players to move between three of them before deciding a winner at St Andrews. Scotland gets another four-day celebration of links golf when the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship returns from October 1 to 4, 2026. The tournament moves between the Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns before finishing at St Andrews on Sunday.
That combination is familiar, but the event is never quite a routine stop on the DP World Tour. Professionals play for an individual title while also partnering amateurs in a separate Team Championship. Some of those amateurs are accomplished golfers; others are famous names from sport, music or entertainment who bring their own following to the week. Robert MacIntyre will arrive as defending champion after a memorable 2025 victory. The Scottish left-hander won at St Andrews only a week after helping Europe retain the Ryder Cup, giving the previous edition an unusually strong home-storyline. The 2026 field is already taking shape, with more names expected before the first tee time.
| Detail | 2026 information |
| Dates | October 1–4, 2026 |
| Tour | DP World Tour |
| Courses | Old Course St Andrews, Carnoustie, Kingsbarns |
| Format | Individual professional and Team Championship |
| Final round | Old Course, St Andrews |
| Defending champion | Robert MacIntyre |
| Prize fund | US$5 million |
The 2026 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship carries 5,000 Race to Dubai points and 1,500 Ryder Cup points. The total prize fund is US$5 million, according to the current DP World Tour schedule.
Why this tournament feels different
A normal tour week is built around one leaderboard. This event has two running at the same time. Every professional has an amateur partner for the opening rounds. The professional is chasing the individual title, while the pair competes for the Team Championship. The two results can pull in different directions: a professional can be high on the individual leaderboard while the team is out of contention, or an amateur’s contribution can lift a pairing far higher than expected.
The course rotation adds another layer. St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns do not ask exactly the same questions, so players must adapt quickly. By Sunday, the surviving professionals and leading teams are back at St Andrews, where the Old Course supplies the familiar final scene. There is also the people factor. The tournament has become known for attracting well-known amateurs, and that gives the week a more relaxed atmosphere than many professional events. It remains competitive golf, but the presence of amateur partners makes the social side impossible to ignore.
The three courses
St Andrews Old Course
The Old Course is the obvious headline venue, but its importance is more than historical. It is where the final round is played, meaning the championship reaches its conclusion on one of golf’s most recognisable pieces of land. The layout has plenty of famous features. The enormous shared greens, deep bunkers, the Road Hole and the Valley of Sin all have the potential to turn a comfortable round into a nervous one. Wind can make an even bigger difference. A calm morning and a blustery afternoon can make the same holes feel like entirely different challenges. For the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, the Old Course also provides the tournament’s emotional centre. Home crowds have plenty of reason to follow the final groups, particularly when a Scottish player is in contention.
Carnoustie
Carnoustie tends to bring a sterner reputation. The Championship Course has hosted the Open Championship and has a history of exposing inaccurate golf. The Barry Burn is an obvious hazard, particularly around the closing holes, but the wider challenge comes from the combination of narrow targets, awkward angles and coastal weather. A score that looks ordinary elsewhere can carry considerable value at Carnoustie. Its place in the rotation also matters strategically. Players know they have to navigate a demanding course while still thinking about the two other venues waiting during the opening rounds.
Kingsbarns
Kingsbarns provides the youngest setting of the three. The modern links opened in 2000 and runs beside the Fife coastline, with wide coastal views forming part of its appeal. It does not have the centuries of history associated with St Andrews, nor Carnoustie’s reputation for severity. Instead, Kingsbarns offers a modern links test with undulating greens, exposed conditions and plenty of strategic choices. The contrast is useful for the tournament. St Andrews supplies history and unusual angles; Carnoustie tests control; Kingsbarns brings a different style of coastal golf. The three-course combination is a major part of the event’s identity.
How Does the Alfred Dunhill Championship Work?
The format is easier to understand once the two competitions are separated. The professional field contains 168 players, and each professional is paired with an amateur. The professionals play an individual stroke-play competition. At the same time, each professional-amateur pairing competes in the Team Championship. During the opening three rounds, the field rotates between the Old Course, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.
For the team result, the better score from the professional and amateur is used on each hole. That gives the amateur a genuine role rather than making the partner a spectator carrying a bag. After three rounds, the individual field is cut to the leading 60 professionals and ties. The leading 20 Pro-Am teams also reach the final round. Sunday is played at the Old Course. That structure explains why a leaderboard can change quickly. The professional needs to score well individually, but a strong amateur round can also keep a team in the hunt. It creates a second story alongside the main championship.
The 2026 field
The professional field already contains plenty of familiar names. Robert MacIntyre returns to defend his title, while Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Matt Fitzpatrick, Padraig Harrington, Cameron Smith, Brooks Koepka and Bubba Watson are among the other notable names announced for the 2026 edition. Francesco Molinari is another former Open champion in the field. The mix of established major winners and current DP World Tour players gives the event plenty of depth before the final entry list is settled.
The amateur side has its own draw. Announced participants include Kelly Slater, Ronan Keating, Kevin Pietersen, Tom Chaplin, Ruud Gullit, Dave Farrell, Sir Steve Redgrave and Bill Murray. Amateur places are not simply sold like ordinary spectator tickets. The official championship has a process for amateur playing-place enquiries, with applicants asked to provide information such as handicap, club membership and background. Sponsor invitations for professionals are handled separately by the Championship Committee.
Looking back at 2025
Robert MacIntyre’s 2025 victory gives the 2026 event a useful starting point. He finished 18 under par with three rounds of 66, beating Tyrrell Hatton by four shots. The tournament was shortened to 54 holes after strong winds caused Saturday’s scheduled round to be cancelled. MacIntyre then closed with another 66 at St Andrews in front of large home galleries.
The win came only seven days after his part in Europe’s Ryder Cup victory at Bethpage Black. For a Scottish player to arrive home and then win at St Andrews made the result particularly memorable. The Team Championship went to Harrison Crowe and Cian Foley, who finished at 33 under par. Their result underlines the point that the team competition is not simply an extra prize attached to the professional event; it has its own leaderboard and its own winners.
What Is the Schedule for the Dunhill Links Championship in 2026?
The 2026 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship runs from Thursday, October 1 through Sunday, October 4. Thursday begins the opening round, with Friday bringing the second round. Saturday is the third round and the point at which the professional and team cuts are determined. Sunday brings the surviving professionals and leading teams back to St Andrews for the final round. The course rotation is one of the week’s defining features. A professional and amateur partnership sees all three venues during the opening stage, so Sunday is not simply another round at the same course. It is the conclusion of a four-day journey through three very different versions of Scottish links golf.
Tickets and watching the tournament
Spectator arrangements for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship are relatively straightforward. Entry is free on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns under the current official ticket terms.
Sunday at St Andrews is different. Admission is ticketed, and tickets must be bought in advance because the organisers will not sell them at the gate. The current published prices are £20 for adults and £15 for seniors over 65. Children under 18, students and military personnel can enter free with valid identification.
Free parking is available at all three courses, according to the organisers. Bags and rucksacks are allowed but may be searched. Phones and cameras can be carried, although the tournament operates strict rules around photography and recording during live play.
For followers who cannot attend, the DP World Tour provides live tournament information, including results and tee times. Broadcast availability depends on territory, so local listings should be checked nearer the event.
Prize money and notable champions
The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship carries a US5milliontotalprizefundin2026.ThechampionshipinformationdividesthatintoUS4.8 million for the professional competition and US$200,000 for the Team Championship.
The individual winner receives US816,000underthepublishedprizestructure.SecondplacecarriesUS528,000 and third place US302,400.ThewinningTeamChampionshippairingreceivesUS50,000.
The roll of honour stretches back to 2001, when Paul Lawrie won the inaugural edition. Padraig Harrington has won twice, while Tyrrell Hatton has three victories, including 2016, 2017 and 2024. More recent winners include Matt Fitzpatrick, Ryan Fox and Robert MacIntyre.
The team side has its own notable pairings and winners. That separate history is worth remembering because the tournament’s Pro-Am identity is not merely a marketing addition; it is one of the event’s defining competitive features.
Beyond the leaderboard
The championship has also developed a charitable side through the Alfred Dunhill Links Foundation. Its work supports golf and community causes, adding another dimension to an event that already has strong links with St Andrews and the surrounding region. There is a wider tourism effect too. During tournament week, the three courses place Scottish links golf in front of an international audience. St Andrews supplies the historic name, Carnoustie brings its major-championship pedigree, and Kingsbarns offers a modern coastal contrast.
Planning a visit
Anyone attending the tournament needs to think about the three venues rather than treating St Andrews as the only destination. The opening rounds take place across the Old Course, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, so travel plans may need to account for different locations. The official guidance recommends public transport where practical and provides free parking at the courses. Accommodation in St Andrews and nearby towns can be busy around major golf events, making early planning sensible. The course environment also matters. Spectators should expect uneven ground, walking and changing coastal weather. The organisers allow bags, but searches can take place at entry points. Checking the official visitor information shortly before the event remains the best way to catch any changes.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 edition has plenty of familiar ingredients, but the combination remains unusual. Three very different links courses share the workload, professionals compete for the individual title, and amateur partners have a separate championship to chase.
MacIntyre’s return as defending champion gives the week an obvious storyline, while the confirmed professional and amateur names add plenty of interest of their own. For spectators, the free opening days provide an accessible way into the event, while Sunday’s final at St Andrews offers the traditional finish.
With October 1–4 marked on the 2026 calendar, the official championship and DP World Tour pages remain the places to check for the final field, tee times, tickets, results and any late changes.
Key Takeaways
1. The 2026 tournament runs from October 1 through October 4 across three Scottish links.
2. St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns provide distinctly different challenges during tournament play.
3. The final round returns to the historic Old Course at St Andrews.
4. Professional golfers compete individually while partnering with amateur participants throughout the event.
5. Robert MacIntyre returns to defend the individual title he won in 2025.
6. The amateur field regularly includes prominent athletes, musicians, actors and sporting personalities.
7. Three opening rounds determine which professionals and teams reach Sunday’s final.
8. Official ticket information should be checked before making plans to attend.
9. Live results and tee-time information provide updates throughout tournament week.
10. The championship combines high-level professional golf with a distinctive Pro-Am atmosphere.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get to play in the Alfred Dunhill Links?
Yes, Amateur playing places are possible, but they are not the same as buying a spectator ticket or paying a normal public entry fee. The championship provides an official process for amateur-place enquiries, asking applicants for details including handicap, club membership and background. The Championship Committee reviews those requests, while professional sponsor invitations follow a separate process.
Why is Andy Murray playing in the Alfred Dunhill Championship?
No, Andy Murray is not currently listed among the confirmed 2026 participants. He has played in previous editions, however, and his association with the event reflects its long-standing habit of inviting prominent sports personalities. The championship has featured athletes and public figures from outside golf alongside professional players and their amateur partners.
How much does the winner of the Alfred Dunhill get?
Yes, The published 2026 prize structure gives the individual professional winner US816,000.ThetotalpurseisUS5 million, with US4.8millionallocatedtotheprofessionalcompetitionandUS200,000 to the Team Championship. The figures should be checked against final organiser information if any changes are announced before tournament week.
How much do tickets cost for the Dunhill Links Championship in 2026?
Yes, Sunday admission at St Andrews currently costs £20 for adults and £15 for seniors over 65. Children under 18, students and military personnel can enter free with valid identification. Thursday, Friday and Saturday are free to attend at all three venues. Sunday tickets must be purchased in advance because there is no gate sale.
Where is Dunhill Links golf course?
No, The championship does not have one single course carrying that name. It uses the Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie Championship Course and Kingsbarns Golf Links. The professional and amateur fields rotate through those venues during the opening rounds, before the final round returns to St Andrews.