Fichardt calls on his Links friends for Open tips

South Africa’s Darren Fichardt is taking the lessons he’s learned from his own performances in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, and the advice from two players with a strong history in the event, to prepare for this week’s Open Championship at Royal Portrush.

Last year in St Andrews, Fichardt stunned the golf world with his 61 at Kingsbarns to lead the first round of the Alfred Dunhill Links. He went on to finish tied 12th for his best ever finish in the event, which he first played back in 2001.

Now he’s looking for the same kind of form in The Open, where he made his Major Championship debut in 2000 in St Andrews, the year Tiger Woods won.

The South African says that two players he’s consulted about the secrets to Links golf are his fellow countryman Branden Grace and England’s Matthew Southgate.

Grace won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in 2012, shooting a 60 in the first round at Kingsbarns, and Southgate has twice finished second in 2019 and 2023.

“That 61 at Kingsbarns was an unbelievable round, but I’ll be honest in that I’ve had to learn how to play Links golf. In this sense I’ve had very good mentors like Branden and Matthew.

“Matthew, in particular, is a king of Links golf in my opinion. He’s had so much success on Links courses. I’ve picked both of their brains quite a bit,” said Fichardt.

Fichardt will also be bringing some serious family support to Portrush. “I’ll have my son Ethan caddying for me again, like he did at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. He also caddied for me at last year’s Open at Royal Troon. He reads the lines very well.

“And I’ll have my other son Tristan on the sidelines with my wife Natasha, so it’s going to be a family affair.

“I played the Irish Open at Royal Portrush many years ago and it was crazy how many people there were, so I’m looking forward to an even greater number of fans for The Open. But most of all I’m excited about having my family there.”