Alfred Dunhill Links Championship: perfect tonic to the Ryder Cup

A clutch of celebrities, some of the world's top golfers and three great golf courses: the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is no ordinary event.

The pro-am golf tournament attracts amateur players from all over and is the ideal way for Europe's Ryder Cup stars to get back into the swing of things as they refocus their attention on The Race to Dubai.

Martin Kaymer, Peter Hanson and local favourite Paul Lawrie are the stars from the Miracle of Medinah playing this week, while American Dustin Johnson is also teeing it up on Scotland's east coast.

Kaymer, who sank the putt to ensure Europe retained the Ryder Cup, said a return to Scotland and the Home of Golf was the perfect antidote to the nervous exhaustion of Chicago.

"It's a very nice feeling to come to St Andrews and to come here to Carnoustie, and a lot of people were rooting for us on Sunday obviously and they were watching," the German told Europeantour.com.

But the tournament, which is played over the Old Course at St Andrews, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie, is as much about the celebrity stars as the professionals.

Athletes including Michael Phelps and Oscar Pistorius are involved this year, but the focus of attention has been on Hollywood actor Bill Murray.

The Groundhog Day star appeared less than impressed about speaking to some "moron" reporters ahead of his practice round this week, but he was happy to speak with us.

Murray, partnered with David Howell for the pro-am, suggested the USA might get its revenge on Europe for Medinah "probably in 2066".

On the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, he said: "It's really fun to play in ... It's kind of glorious".

Sir Steve Redgrave, Huey Lewis, Greg Kinnear, Brian Lara, Sir Ian Botham and Shane Warne are among the other celebrities taking part.

The unique format of the event incorporates two separate competitions played concurrently – individual professional and team.

A total of 168 teams, each consisting of one professional and one amateur, contest the first three rounds, with one round being played at each of the three courses in rotation.

The team score will be the best net score of the two players at each hole. After 54 holes the field reduces to the leading 60 professionals and ties, plus the 20 leading teams, all of whom play the final round over the Old Course at St Andrews.

Phelps, who has as many Olympic gold medals as there are holes on a golf course, is impressed with the venues.

"With all the history that is around you here, on these great courses, it is just an honour for me to play in this tournament," he told Europeantour.com.

"I was a bit nervous on the first tee, but it wasn't too bad. To be honest, it was more nerve-wracking watching the Ryder Cup last week."

While some of the amateurs taking part are leaders in their disciplines, teeing it up in front of crowds of knowledgeable golf fans is another matter.

"I'm out of my comfort zone on the golf course, and especially in an event like this and playing in front of a lot of people," said Pistorius, who competed at both the London Olympics and Paralympics this summer.

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