European Tour Fantasy Golf Picks and Predictions for the 2017 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship

2017 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship Fantasy Preview

For the sixth week in a row, we were very much on the edge of our seats as a couple of our picks had very live title chances at last week’s British Masters.

Tyrrell Hatton led by three at the halfway stage, while Graeme Storm was barely out of the top-five from the get-go. Unfortunately, neither could capitalise as some fine golf from a resurgent Rory McIlroy propelled him up the leaderboard.

But it was another fine young talent in Paul Dunne who would outstrip them all to claim his first European Tour title. The Irishman compiled a final round of 61 that featured the perfect blend of skill and luck to take the honors.

Amateur Paul Dunne of Ireland waves to the crowd on the 18th green…

Amateur Paul Dunne of Ireland waves to the crowd on the 18th green during the third round of the 144th Open Championship at The Old Course on July 19, 2015 in St Andrews, Scotland. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

The European Tour remains on UK soil this week for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, which is a unique rotational course format often used on the PGA TOUR but very rarely seen on European shores. The players play the three host venues in rotation Thursday through to Saturday – St Andrews, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie. At this point the cut is made, and those remaining battle it out at St Andrews for the crown on Sunday.

This is a pro-am event that tends to ease things up for the celebrities, and so St Andrews and Kingsbarns in particular are set up in forgiving fashion with wide fairways and huge landing areas on the greens. Last year Tyrrell Hatton won in -23, which is roughly the average winning score here, and that’s surprisingly low given how cold it can get and how hard the wind blows on the Scottish coastline.

Perhaps the key for gamers this week is determining which rotation they want their players to be on. The wind is set to blow real hard on Thursday – 20mph is forecast but you just know it will feel stronger than that, before dropping to 12mph on Friday and Saturday.

So, do we want our guys to be playing the easy course (Kingsbarns) on the windiest day, or do we want them to play the toughest course (Carnoustie) on the Thursday so that they can cash in on the easier stretches on Friday and Saturday?

For what it’s worth, Hatton went Carnoustie-Kingsbarns-St Andrews, as did Richard Sterne who finished T2 and fourth-placed Joakim Lagergren. It may be an angle, it may not.

With all of the above in mind, who makes our team this week?

This Week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship Fantasy Picks & Predictions

You must be a Premium Member to view our exclusive fantasy golf picks.

Already a member?  Sign in Here.

Cover photo via Instagram