Alfred Dunhill Links Championship predictions: McKibbin to thrive beside the seaside
Steve Davies
Tom McKibbin has had four top-seven finishes on the LIV tour
Tom Vaillant was seventh in the Dunhill 12 months ago
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Golf's centre stage switches from a frenzied Bethpage Black to the serenity of the Scottish seaside with Ryder Cup heroes past and present headlining a world-class field at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Defending champion Tyrrell Hatton is one of four members of last week's victorious Ryder Cup team teeing it up in a pro-am event played over three famous links - St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns - before finishing off on the Old Course on Sunday.
The latest Alfred Dunhill Links Championship odds are available on LiveScore Bet
McKibbin can bring luck of the Irish to the Dunhill
All eyes will be on Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Fitzpatrick and home hopeful Robert MacIntyre just days after their Ryder Cup heroics in the United States.
They head the betting in an event which features a clutch of old Ryder Cuppers as well, the likes of Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson, Patrick Reed and Brooks Koepka.
Throw in the cream of the crop from the DP World Tour — this is, after all, a big points earner towards the play-offs or keeping cards — and the Dunhill Links promises to be a thrilling affair.
The downer — or added bonus depending on your viewpoint — is a seriously ropey weather forecast which may make a nonsense of the market and give us some seriously big-priced contenders.
One player to look out for is Tom McKibbin, who has had a positive year on the LIV circuit with four top-seven finishes to go with big showings in Dubai and Singapore at the start of 2025 and the Irish Open (T20) and BMW (T11) more recently.
Bad weather should not perturb a player who learned his golf in County Antrim and McKibbin can have a good week.
Back Tom McKibbin to win and each-way at 33/1 with LiveScore Bet
The latest Alfred Dunhill Links Championship odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Vaillant to light a flame for French hopefuls
As we have said, the rain is scheduled to pour, the wind to pick up, and that is going to level the playing field.
Plenty of players, therefore, could get into the conversation though you would probably still want pros with course or current form on your shortlist.
And France's Tom Vaillant has both. Seventh last year — undone by a final round 73 when in the mix — he is finishing 2025 nicely with top-25s at both the British Masters and the European Masters and lit up Wentworth on day one of the PGA with a flawless 64.
Back Tom Vaillant to win and each-way at 150/1 with LiveScore Bet
Armitage ranks a decent prospect
Marcus Armitage is another player who has performed well around these links having finished second behind Fitzpatrick two years ago.
His formbook is a patchwork of good runs and missed cuts with a recent T12 at the K Club in the Irish Open and a tied-fifth in Paris at the French Open evidence he could be worth trusting to at least get another top-20 cheque.
Back Marcus Armitage for a top-20 finish at 4/1 with LiveScore Bet
The latest Alfred Dunhill Links Championship odds are available on LiveScore Bet
