Celebrities and professionals tee it up for Autism Speaks at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Celebrities and Professionals turned the old golfing adage of ‘drive for show, putt for dough' on its head this week when they teed it up at St Andrews for a special fundraising event using Callaway Golf longest and straightest ever driver, the new FT-iQ.
Players participating in practice rounds for this week's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship were offered the chance to hit the extraordinary new driver from the 18th tee of The Old Course at St Andrews and, for every yard gained, raised money for Autism Speaks, a charity close to the heart of Callaway Golf Staff Professional Ernie Els and his family.
The total cumulative distance during the ‘Longest Ever Drive Competition' was an amazing 56,498 yards - more than 32 miles - raising an incredible £18,000.
Hugh Grant, Johan Cruyff, Ronan Keating, Shane Warne, Franz Klammer, Sir Ian Botham and Tim Henman were among the stars who hit fund-raising drives up the 18th fairway.
Callaway Golf Staff Professional Ernie Els, whose son Ben has been diagnosed with autism, said: "I am very grateful to everyone who took part in the competition and helped raise awareness and funds for Autism Speaks. I'd also like to thank Callaway Golf, the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and the team on the 18th tee for making this happen."
"Everyone's enthusiasm to get behind the ‘FTiQ Longest Ever Drive Challenge ' has been outstanding," said Jeff Dodds, Callaway Golf Director of Marketing, presenting a cheque to Ernie Els for Autism Speaks. "Thank you to everyone who took part - and hitting such long drives for such a good cause."
