Big Little Lies actress Kathryn Newton is set to play in Alfred Dunhill Links golf championship

American actress Kathryn Newton will make her golfing debut this week in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews in Scotland, where she is expected to be paired up with a professional golfer. 

Newton, 25, who was a golfing prodigy in her childhood, once revealed she made the tough call to ditch a career in the sport in favor of finding success in acting. Now she will be competing on a three different links courses, centered on the ‘home of golf’. 

The Florida native is well-know for starring as Abigail Carlson in the drama series Big Little Lies and Allie Pressman in the Netflix teen drama series The Society. She also featured in Bad Teacher, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and is lined up for a prominent role in the next Marvel movie: Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. 

Speaking ahead of the start of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on September 29, Newton said: ‘To be able to play St Andrews, the most historic course in the world, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, in a fully-fledged professional event will be a wonderful moment for me and I am really going to enjoy it.’ 

Newton (left) is famous for her role as Abigail Carlson in the TV drama series Big Little Lies

Newton is lined up for a role in the next Marvel movie: Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

The actress claimed the experience was a ‘wonderful moment’ and was going to enjoy it

The 25-year-old started golfing from a young age and began playing competitively at the age of eight before embracing success in her teenage years. She helped guide the Notre Dame High School girls golf team to three championships while playing with a plus-two handicap.

She also impressively shot in the 70s, and her lowest 18-hole score in a tournament was a 69, while in high school.

Newton was then on the verge of playing golf at a collegiate level but opted against representing the University of Southern California and chose to go after a career in acting. 

In 2012, it was planned that she would take part in the US Women’s Open in North Carolina, but she had to withdraw from the sectional qualifier after getting the lead acting role in Paranormal Activity 4. 

Newton took part in a Celebrity fourball at The 150th Open at St Andrews Old Course in July

Newton was set to play competitive golf at USC before opting to pursue a career in acting

With a prize money set at $5 million, the Alfred Dunhill Links is home to two different tournaments: one individualistic competition for professionals who are part of the PGA Tour, and the Team Championship, which Newton will compete in along with a professional player. Amateur participants are usually paired with a pro. 

To increase interest in the event, many of the amateurs are well known personalities from the worlds of sport and entertainment. Boris Becker, Michael Douglas, Samuel L. Jackson and Hugh Grant have all taken part in the tournament in the past.

And Newton will not be short of A-List company as US rock legends Huey Lewis and Bon Jovi’s Tico Torres, Ronan Keating and former West Ham captain Mark Noble are also set to tee it up in Scotland. 

Samuel L. Jackson (left) and Hugh Grant (right) have previously taken part in the event

Actor and singer Justin Timberlake (left) is pictured at the event at Carnoustie in 2019

The Championship will take place from September 29 to October 2 across the Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns. 

 Defending champion Danny Willett, the 2016 Masters champion, will be up against some stiff opposition. 

Also playing are Major champions Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry and Francesco Molinari, US PGA star Billy Horschel and two-time winners Padraig Harrington and Tyrrell Hatton.

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