Alejandro del Rey (-7) has had a magnificent start at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. He delivered a scorecard of 65 strokes at the Old Course at St Andrews and has positioned himself high on the leaderboard. The Madrid golfer made eight birdies and a solitary bogey. As always, his golf doesn’t go unnoticed and, beyond his extraordinary round, he once again delivered a shot that isn’t seen very often. One that doesn’t appear in any manual. It happened on the 7th hole.
It’s a par 4 of 371 yards. The unwritten manual says that the ideal game plan on this hole is to hit a 3-wood or an iron from the tee to avoid bringing the bunker at the front of the green into play. More than a bunker, it’s a bit of a grave. “I think Old Morris is buried there,” Alejandro tells TenGolf with a laugh.
To fly over that bunker, you need to carry a whopping 297 metres. A wild feat. If there’s a strong tailwind, it might be considered, but with a headwind, calm or a slight breeze, practically no one thinks of pulling out the driver… No one except Alex del Rey. He’s a different player. A genius and a character. Pure power and spectacle.
Upon reaching the 7th tee, he discussed the shot with Borja, his caddie. The most immediate reference wasn’t very good. In the practice round, he had hit the driver and ended up in the bunker. However, he felt good and noticed a slight tailwind. He’s not very convinced when he says it, but at least Alex felt it that way. “Let’s give it a whack,” he told Borja. He grabbed the driver and removed the cover. The spectators, delighted.
Indeed, Alex gave it his all, not holding back an ounce of energy, and his ball cleared the bunker. It flew 300 metres and landed gently on the green, leaving him an eagle opportunity of just under 20 metres. Fabulous. Easy birdie. It’s a difficult and risky shot. But it’s the essence of the golfer from La Moraleja.
When we say it doesn’t appear in the manuals, it’s not just a figure of speech. Of the 56 professionals who played the Old Course today, only one more chose the same route as Del Rey. It was the South African Dylan Frittelli. He also hit across the bunker and, in fact, left himself an eagle chance a bit closer than Del Rey. He had about 15 metres. He also made the birdie.
The other 50 players opted to play short and aim for the birdie with the second shot. The only slightly unusual exception was Gavin Green, who did reach the bunker, but luckily for him, the ball stayed to the left, out of the sand trap. These are the things of Alex del Rey, that style of play that makes him a different golfer.
By the way, Alex’s relationship with the Old Course is quite good. It’s the second professional tournament he’s played there and another great round. In 2023, he shot 67 strokes. Only three rounds were played due to bad weather, so he only played there one day. As an amateur, he also played 36 holes there during a St Andrews Links Trophy.
