Alfred Dunhill Links: No Ryder Cup hangover expected for Rory

Mere days after European glory in the 40th Ryder Cup Scotland’s golfing moment in the sunshine is extended for another week at least, as three famous venues play host to the annual Alfred Downhill Links Championship.

The bulging purse offered by one of the European Tour’s most lucrative events has certainly done its job by attracting four of the victorious Ryder Cup, stars to the field.

A quartet of Gleneagles heroes have remained in the bonny land, including 2004 Alfred Dunhill champion Stephen Gallacher (40/1), Victor Dubuission (20/1) and US Open champ Martin Kaymer at 14s for the prestigious Pro-Am title.

However, there’s no doubting world number one Rory McIlroy is the main attraction once more, and after the way he applied himself on Paul McGinley’s victorious team, makes a more than backable 4/1 favourite.

McIlroy was one of the lynchpins of Europe’s success at Gleneagles, scoring three points for the boys in blue, which included decimating USA’s supposed saviour Rickie Fowler 5&4 in Sunday’s singles.

The Northern Irishman’s exhibition of driving over the three days in Perthshire bodes extremely well for the challenges of links ahead of him at an event where he’s looking to amend a record of two previous runner-up finishes.

There will no doubt be plenty of interest in Dubuisson, one of European golf’s new darlings, whose iron play at Glenegales proved a master-class in shaping a golf ball that amateurs can only dream of.

At 20/1, and having turned in a fifth position at the event two years ago, there will be far worse each-way money spent, while 11/8 on him finishing as top Frenchman looks glued on profit.

Expect Gallacher to bounce back from his nervy Ryder Cup showing with an obligatory top-10 finish at 3/1 as well.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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