Yurav Premlall returns to the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship this week on the back of what has been a life-changing year for him, and in a tournament where he hopes to become only the second South African champion in history.
Premlall stunned the golf world when he won his maiden DP World Tour title in record fashion by 14 shots in May’s Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship in Spain. It was the largest winning margin in history for a maiden DP World Tour title, and it was only one shot short of Tiger Woods’s all-time record of 15 shots for winning the 2000 US Open.
Now he hopes to bring that form to an Alfred Dunhill Links Championship that has had only one South African winner to date in Branden Grace in 2012.
“I’m very excited. This event has been very special to so many South Africans. Mr Rupert has done so much for golf in our country and the world that it’s a great way for us to be able to give back. That win in Spain has definitely made me hungry for more. Now I’m just figuring out how to do what I did in Spain a couple of more times in my life,” Premlall said on Wednesday.
Premlall certainly enjoys the pro-am format of this tournament, which brings together sports stars, celebrities and professional golfers for four days of exceptional links golf over the Old Course in St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.
He made a good run at this title in 2024 when he went into the weekend just four shots off the lead before finishing tied 54th.
“I enjoy all three of the golf courses here so I can’t really pick a favourite. I have a great partner this week in Schalk Burger Jnr. That’s going to be fun. Having a good partner in this event is probably the most important thing.”
Premlall is one of 27 South Africans competing this week, also including Casey Jarvis, Jayden Schaper, Thriston Lawrence, Branden Grace and Dean Burmester.