Familiar faces flourish in Scotland

Joakim Lagergren and Tyrrell Hatton continued their love affair with links golf as they finished in a share of second at the 2021 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Two time champion Hatton carded a closing 67 at St Andrews to finish at 16 under, where he was joined by Swede Lagergren, who got round in 66.

In 19 rounds at this event, Lagergren has only failed to break par four times, with this week's runner up finish sitting alongside a third and two fourths in six appearances.

"It's been great," he said. "Obviously love this place, love this format. Just been enjoying myself and really pushed for it today but I ended up short.

"It feels like links golf kind of suits my game. I don't know, just love the place."

Hatton's victories in 2016 and 2017 were followed by a second place in 2018, and the Englishman has either finished first or second in four of the last five editions.

"This event has continued to be nice to me and obviously enjoyed playing with my dad as well," he said. "So it's been a special week and end of the week, I'm happy.

"Generally I've always putted well and I didn't really hole anything, it sounds funny but that's normally the biggest thing.

"Obviously the pin positions are a lot kinder compared to what we normally face throughout the year.

"With the amateurs we're playing with this week, it needs to be a little bit easier, and I guess just being able to take advantage of that."