Stars from the world of music, film and sport were among the celebrities to tee off in Tayside and Fife in the Alfred Dunhill Links Golf Championship.
Former Westlife singer Brian McFadden, legendary rock frontman Huey Lewis, retired Portuguese football captain Luis Figo, and ex Ireland rugby captain Brian O’Driscoll featured as the annual golf tournament got underway at Carnoustie Links.
The four-day tournament, which is also being played at St Andrews’ Old Course and Kingsbarns Links in East Neuk, incorporates two separate competitions.
An individual tournament is played for the leading professionals while a team championship is also held in which the pro’s are paired with amateur golfers.
McFadden has again paired up with English professional Robert Rock, with the duo teeing off just before 10am at Carnoustie Links.
37-year-old McFadden, who made his debut last year alongside Rock, Boyzone frontman Ronan Keating and Swede Peter Hanson, said his competitive nature meant he was in it to win it.
He said: “I want to win. As soon as you stand on that first tee, it doesn’t matter how much you have practised or what you think you can do, it all flies out the window.
“Last year wast the perfect start — teeing off at St Andrews, and not just to have my good friend Robert beside me but Ronan too. Ronan managed Westlife in 1998, so we’ve been close friends for a long time.
“There was good banter going on in that four ball, though I’m not sure Peter knew what was going on.
“For us, it’s like winning a major. My goal is to make the cut and be there on Sunday.”
Also teeing off at Carnoustie was inspirational Royal Marine Ian Bishop, who lost both legs when he stepped on an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Afghanistan in 2009.
With the use of two prosthetic limbs, he soared up the amateur golfing rankings and describes competing at Dunhill as the “pinnacle” of his achievement.
“I was determined not to spend 90 per cent of my time in a wheelchair,” he said.
“I took up golf though the On Course Foundation, set up by John Simpson, who was Nick Faldo’s manager.
“You won’t get anything bigger for the amateur golfer than the Aflred Dunhill Links Championship.
“I’m very lucky to be involved in it.”
Fifty Shades of Grey star Jamie Dornan was also in action in St Andrews with locals rushing to catch a glimpse of the Northern Irishman.
The 35-year-old revealed that he was lucky to make the tournament after a film shoot in Dublin was postponed, freeing him up to attend.
