Played across three links, including two Open Championship venues, the event is of course a pro-am format that is always a popular watch on TV to catch a sight of fantastic courses played by the best in the world and some with games closer to our own.

Attracting a strong field, as it inevitably does, the size of the playing group offers expanded opportunities for those not named McIlroy, Fitzpatrick and so on. Included among those getting a chance to play links golf in Scotland on one of the world’s premier Tours are 14 Aussies, 10 via the PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit and even Geoff Ogilvy.

The former US Open champion will switch from non-playing assistant captain at last week’s Presidents Cup to competitor this week as he continues his sporadic playing schedule that has increased this year via a couple of PGA Tour starts.

Beyond the players, this event is always worth a look to see how the courses play outside the summer months we normally see them for the big events of the UK swing, with beanies, umbrellas and jackets more common than short sleeves, particularly this year, while scoring is inevitably lower with courses setup to accommodate the amateur players.

RIGHT: Danny Willett picked up the trophy here in 2021. PHOTO: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Recent PGA Tour runner-up Danny Willett claimed this title in 2021 when the Masters winner finished at 18-under-par and two shots clear of two-time Dunhill champion Tyrrell Hatton and Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren.

Willett shot into contention with a 66 on Saturday then made his way around The Old Course in 68 strokes to claim his eighth European Tour title on his 34th birthday no less.

The Englishman will be a hot favourite to repeat this year, having nearly won the PGA Tour’s season opening Fortinet Championship a fortnight ago. His three putt from close range to lose by one to Max Homa surely providing a little extra internal fire.

COURSES: The three co-hosts this week need almost no introduction … but where’s the fun in that.

Players tee it up across Kingsbarns, The Old Course at St Andrews and Carnoustie over the first three days before the final round is played at the most famous course in the game.

Kingsbarns Golf Links is of course the youngest of the trio, opening for play in 2000. Golf is no stranger to the land on the coast in Fife, but various interruptions saw play halted, including World War II and the placing of landmines as part of a defence effort.

American Kyle Phillips was charged with creating the current course in 1997, and a magnificent job he did of crafting a modern links that offers points of difference to the other two venues for this week.

Carnoustie is the toughest of the three courses, unsurprising for a venue nicknamed ‘Carnasty’ when it takes Open Championship host duties.

Two-time champion Tyrrell Hatton drives on the 18th of The Old Course. PHOTO: David Cannon/Getty Images.

Allan Robertson is credited with the original design, with Old Tom Morris and James Braid both making changes over the journey of the seaside links.

The closing four holes are standouts here, and of course no score is complete until the 18th and the infamous Barry Burn are negotiated. Tommy Fleetwood managing a course record 63 in this event that it is hard to imagine being bested anytime soon.

Last but not least, The Old Course at St Andrews welcomes tournament golf again in 2022 after Cam Smith claimed the Claret Jug there in July.

As mentioned above, the September/October version of The Old Course is vastly different to the July presentation and the primary opposition to low scoring is the weather, which was down right nasty earlier this week as players got in their practice rounds.

The Home of Golf offers plenty of highlights during this week each year, the Road Hole bunker at the 17th the stuff of nightmares for amateurs in the field, so too the widest fairway in golf at the 1st/18th that sees more drives out of bounds than one could ever imagine standing on the 1st tee

PRIZEMONEY: US$5,000,000

RELATED: So-called expert golf tips for this week

PLAYERS TO WATCH: It is something of the usual suspects here this week.

Rory McIlroy is back in Scotland where he often plays some of his best golf yet rarely collects trophies.

One can imagine the pain of missing out on another Claret Jug will be very much still burning for the Northern Irishman this week, and his play since The Open has been of an exceptionally high standard that means he wouldn’t surprise as the man standing on the Swilcan Bridge with the trophy come Sunday.

Danny Willet did just that last year and as stated above is in good form as he approaches a first title defence in some time.

Willett has a game well suited to links golf and form on his side, and is hoping to become the third multiple time winner of the Dunhill.

Rory McIlroy channelling some positive Ryder Cup vibes with his headwear earlier this week in Scotland. PHOTO: Jan Kruger/Getty Images.

The last player to do that was Tyrrell Hatton who loves this event, links golf and The Old Course.

The Englishman has had some indifferent form this year, but was T11 at The Open and eighth in his last start in Italy so can’t be far from considerations this week.

Hatton’s compatriot Matt Fitzpatrick shapes as another one likely to give this event a shake, although he will have a big focus on fun as he plays with his mother as his amateur partner.

The US Open champion finished runner-up last start in Italy and shared 21st at St Andrews in July.

Beyond the big name favourites, the Aussie contingent offers plenty of intrigue for a variety of reasons.

Geoff Ogilvy has a long love affair with links golf and seems to have found a spark as he returns from semi-retirement to a more regular playing schedule that will intensify over the Aussie summer.

Jed Morgan is part of the LIV Golf contingent in the field this week, and gets a second chance at St Andrews and it will be interesting to see what he learned the first time around, while Josh Armstrong poses as an interesting watch.

The New South Welshman obliterates golf balls for fun, and if he is playing down wind this week could be hitting some silly clubs into greens as he gains some valuable big Tour experience.

72-HOLE RECORD: 264 (-24, Tyrrell Hatton, 2017)

PAST AUSSIE WINNERS: No Australian has won this event.

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Jed Morgan, Blake Windred, Aaron Pike, Louis Dobbelaar, Austin Bautista, Daniel Gale, Jordan Zunic, David Micheluzzi, Nathan Barbieri, Josh Armstrong, Scott Hend, Geoff Ogilvy, Maverick Antcliff and Zach Murray.

TV TIMES*
Round 1: Thursday (Fox Sports 503 9pm – 2am)
Round 2: Friday (Fox Sports 503 9pm – 2am)
Round 3: Saturday (Fox Sports 503 9pm – 3am)
Round 4: Sunday (Fox Sports 503 9.30pm – 3am)
*AEST/AEDT, check local guides