Golf
WATCH: Rory McIlroy’s Dad Chip-In At The 2024 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship For Unbelievable Par Save
Andy is a horse racing journalist and betting expert who specializes in trends and stats. With his long association with TrainersQuotes and FromTheStables, Andy has also built up solid s with some of the best stables in the UK. Has written for GeeGeez and bookmakers Matchbook and BetBright in the past too, plus was the former sports betting editor of odds comparison site Easyodds and Juicestorm. Has also appeared on betting podcasts for MatchBook and has featured in the popular Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Guide in the past. Andy's also ghost written for former top jockey Richard Dunwoody and continues to have a monthly column in the Racing Ahead horse racing magazine. Now a regular on Sportscasting giving his views, trends and tips mainly on horse racing - if there's a stat to be explored and it's a sport, Andy is sure to find a betting angle to use. You can also hear Andy's weekly horse racing views and best bets on the popular Final Furlong podcast.
Get to know Andy Newton betterPublished04 Oct 2024
Rory McIlroy is one of the star names at the 2024 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship this week – however, the world number three golfer was upstaged at the event by his own dad.
Rory McIlroy’s Dad Chips-In At Alfred Dunhill Links Championship To Save Par
The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is one of the highlights on the DP World Tour each year as the unique golf event has a format you don’t see every week.
As well as the main individual pro tournament for the top golfers around the world, there is also a team competition which welcomes amateur golfers – mainly top celebs, that like to turn their hand at a round of golf, or family of the professionals.
One of these team link-ups at the 2024 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship was world number three Rory McIlroy, who was also one of the main players with the best golf betting sites in the UK to win the indivudual event, teaming up with his dad – Gerry McIlroy.
Gerry and Rory teed-off at Carnoustie on Thursday with McIlroy Jnr producing a three-under-par score of 69 – however, it was dad Gerry that stole the headlines with an amazing chip in on the 7th to save his par (watch below).
WATCH: Rory McIlroy’s Dad, Gerry McIlroy Chipping In At The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 2024
Gerry McIlroy, I was not familiar with your game. 🔥🫡 #DunhillLinks pic.twitter.com/OxDK6EvSXT
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) October 3, 2024
Gerry McIlroy dragged his tee shot into a fairway bunker on the par 4 7th hole – which meant he’d been struggling to get a bogey, let alone a par.
Having to chip out of the deep-faced bunker sideways, it looked all about trying to limit the damage after his third shot also ended up in some light rough off the green.
However, Gerry McIlroy wasted no time in playing his fourth – a chip onto the green – with his caddie still putting away his club from the previous shot.
But a delightful chip, with the perfect pace, resulted in McIlroy senior chipping in to save par – something that looked a million-to-one chance after his tee shot hit the bunker.
Despite this epic shot McIlroy and McIlroy ended the day tied 125th in the team leaderboard.
WATCH: Gerry McIlroy’s Full Hole On The 7th (Including Tee-Off)
Rory said after this round with his dad -“But it was lovely being out there with him. We have done this a few times before and it’s his 65th birthday on Saturday, so to be strolling around the Old Course with him on his 65th birthday is going to be a pretty cool occasion.
“I am delighted to be out there with him, and we look forward to tomorrow.”
Next up for Rory McIlroy is a trip to nearby Kingsbarns Golf Course on Friday, before the action climaxes at St Andrews over the weekend.
McIlroy is still to win the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, which carries a purse of €5m, but has been runner-up three times (2009, 2011 & 2014).
He added – “It is nice to get Carnoustie out of the way. It is a course where we had perfect conditions. I feel I could have taken advantage a bit more.
“Kingsbarns is a course where if you get decent conditions you can obviously score a low score. We will try and get out there tomorrow and shoot a low one and get myself into the tournament.”
South African Darren Fichardt was the clubhouse leader in the pro individual tournament after shooting a remarkable -11, which was a 61.