Fitzpatrick and McIlroy targeting family success in Scotland

By GolfDigestME.com

Major Champions Rory McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick can’t wait to tee it up alongside their parents this week as they return to the Home of Golf for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

The unique event brings together some of the world’s best golfers with celebrities from the worlds of sport, music and film, playing in an individual and team competition across three of Scotland’s most famous courses: the Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns. Each competitor plays a round on each course, with the top 60 professionals and the leading 20 amateur teams returning to St Andrews for the final round on Sunday.

The pair, who currently sit first and second on the DP World Tour Rankings, will be joined on the fairways by their parents, with Rory’s father Gerry and Matt’s mother Susan taking part this year. The McIlroys have come close to winning the team competition in the past, missing out on the title in 2019 when they were beaten by Tommy Fleetwood and Ogden Phipps on a countback.

Joining them this week is 2016 Masters champ Danny Willett, who returns to defend the title he won on his 34th birthday last year, and 2019 Open Champion Shane Lowry. Lowry is looking to maintain momentum after recording his sixth DP World Tour victory earlier this month at the BMW PGA Championship.

Also riding the crest of a wave is Robert MacIntyre, who secured a long-awaited second DP World Tour victory at the Italian Open just two weeks ago.

“It’s a great week,” said McIlroy. “Lots of great memories here for me and for my family and my dad. I feel like it’s where my professional career really began and really took off. I got my European Tour card 15 years ago here at this golf course, and you know, it’s been a pretty great journey since. It’s a great week.

“It’s just so nice to be able to share it with my dad and with my family. The focus is trying to get us over the line so we can play here again on Sunday. Try to make the cut, play the Old Course again one more time, and yeah, really looking forward to the week.”

Fitzpatrick added: “It’s incredible, it really is. These are memories that will stay with you forever. I’m really just trying to enjoy it as much as possible this week. There’s quite a lot of seriousness in my comment about not bothered about the individual this week. I’m just going to go out there and support my mum as best I can. I want her to enjoy it more than anything. I don’t want her to be nervous or worried about anything.”

Follow Us

Fitzpatrick and McIlroy targeting family success in Scotland

Latest Issue

Latest

UAE’s Grenville-Wood fires fine front nine to be within the mix in Al Ain

LIV Golf announces slate of new executive hires

What do disappointing Masters final-round TV ratings actually mean?

Former Augusta National worker charged with stealing millions in Masters merchandise and memorabilia

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

Ewen Ferguson: ‘I’ve won twice on tour, and there is still no better feeling than winning’

Guy Kinnings becomes European Tour Group CEO

Former Dubai Creek Asia-Pacific Amateur Champion triumphs on DP World Tour

The 8th hole at the Hero Indian Open was an absolute bloodbath on Thursday