PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan (left) is paired with PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan (proper) this week.
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Negotiations between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which runs LIV Golf, proceed to tug on, however eye-raising pairings at this week’s DP World Tour occasion is likely to be a touch {that a} closing settlement between the combatants is within the offing.
The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship goes down this week in Scotland, the place star execs will compete alongside members of the family and celebrities in a concurrent pro-am throughout historic programs: St. Andrews’ Old Course, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.
Rory McIlroy usually performs yearly together with his father, Gerry. But the main figures of either side within the PGA Tour-PIF feud are additionally enjoying this week.
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan will tee it up alongside American professional Billy Horschel. Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the PIF governor, can also be enjoying the occasion, teaming up with LIV Golf professional Dean Burmester.
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Whether accidentally or by design, Horschel and Burmester are paired collectively for Thursday’s opening spherical, teeing off at 4 a.m. ET (9 a.m. native time). That signifies that their pro-am companions, Monahan and Al-Rumayyan, will even be enjoying with one another on Day 1.
For Friday’s second spherical, Horschel and McIlroy will likely be paired collectively, giving the four-time main winner time to strategize with Monahan.
The pairings weirdness continues on Saturday, when McIlroy will play alongside Burmester and Rumayyan.
Furthermore, in all three of these rounds, the 2 teams will play in successive pairings, probably giving them further time to barter whereas ready on tees collectively.
While no particulars of a closing deal between the Tour and PIF have been publicized, the talks appear to be heating up.
At the Tour Championship in August, Monahan acknowledged as a lot, saying, “We’re at the table and actively engaged with the Public Investment Fund. We remain hopeful about that outcome. But at the same time, we’re moving forward at speed and focused on what we can control, because that’s what we owe to our fans.”
The sides then reportedly held secret talks in New York City in September.
McIlroy, who initially was a vocal critic of LIV Golf, admitted remorse for his involvement within the feud in May, and expressed a want to see a closing deal finalized between the 2 sides.
“My whole thing is I’m just disappointed to what it’s done to — not to the game of golf, the game of golf will be fine — but men’s professional golf and this sort of divide we have at the minute,” McIlroy mentioned forward of the RBC Canadian Open. “Hopefully we’re on a path to sorting that out and getting that to come back together, but, yeah, I mean, hindsight’s always 20/20, but in hindsight I wish I hadn’t have gotten as deeply involved as I have.”
