Actor Tom Holland, best known for playing Spider-Man in the latest Marvel movies, will make his first appearance in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship next week.
Over the last half-decade or so, the British actor and dancer has established himself as one of Hollywood’s most exciting and versatile young stars. Following his breakthrough playing the title role in the West End musical Billy Elliot in 2008, Holland gained worldwide stardom as Spider-Man in five hugely successful films including Avengers: Endgame which currently stands as the second highest grossing film of all time.
“I’m pretty sure Spider-Man and Peter Parker were not into golf, they were too busy saving the world. But I love golf and I can’t wait to play in the Alfred Dunhill Links. Anyone who plays golf knows about the amazing courses in the Championship, and you only have to look at the list of professionals who are playing, and some of the other amateurs, to know what a rare honour it is to be in the field,” said Holland, who boasts an excellent golf swing and has a handicap in the teens.
Future roles for Holland include lending his voice in the animated film Spies in Disguise, opposite Will Smith and Ben Mendelsohn, and the main character in the Joe and Anthony Russo-directed movie adaptation of the semi-autobiographical novel Cherry by war veteran Nico Walker who is currently serving jail time for bank robbery. He will also star in the lead role in Chaos Walking for director Doug Liman, opposite Daisy Ridley, Mads Mikkelsen, David Oyelowo, and Demián Bichir.
The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship takes place over three of the world’s most historic links courses; the Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, from September 26-29. It incorporates two separate competitions – an individual professional tournament and a team event in which the professionals are paired with amateurs.
Holland is joined by fellow actor Greg Kinnear and some of the biggest names from the music industry such as Justin Timberlake, Ronan Keating, Huey Lewis, Brad Simpson, Dave Farrell, Mike Rutherford and Brian McFadden.
Other celebrity amateurs confirmed include sporting greats Sir Steve Redgrave, Wladimir Klitschko, Kevin Pietersen, Shane Warne, Luis Figo, Ruud Gullit, Vinnie Jones, Jamie Redknapp, Andriy Shevchenko and Sir Anthony McCoy, along with TV celebrities Piers Morgan and Peter Jones.
The amateurs will tee up alongside the strongest ever professional field in the history of the event, led by three of the world’s top 10 golfers – Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and Jon Rahm – along with reigning Open champion Shane Lowry, Tommy Fleetwood, and US Ryder Cup player Tony Finau.
The other Major winners in the line-up are Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell and Trevor Immelman. Also in the field are two-time winner Tyrrell Hatton, Lee Westwood, winner in 2003, former winner Branden Grace and the ever-popular Luke Donald.
Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard will be back to defend the professional title, along with Chinese star Li Haotong, winner of the Team Championship last year with WeChat inventor Allen Zhang.
This is the 35th year that Alfred Dunhill has supported golf at St Andrews, through the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and previously the Alfred Dunhill Cup. Millions have been raised for charity in that time through the work of the Alfred Dunhill Links Foundation.
Admission is free for all spectators over the first three days with final day tickets available for purchase at the entrance gates for £20 (concessions £15). To purchase online, click here
