Dunhill Links effect provides hope in quest for golfing peace between PGA Tour, LIV Golf
10/03/2024 05:00 PM
Whatever you wanted to do at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, it was a lovely day to do it.
You may, for instance, have fancied seeing what all the fuss was about by following the PGA Tour commissioner, Jay Monahan, and the Saudi Public Investment Fund governor, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, as they were plonked in the same group of the Pro-Am affair at Carnoustie.
Then again, most casual observers peering on would probably have had no idea who these two gentlemen were, despite us mouth-frothing golf writers eagerly billing their appearance together as something akin to 007 playing with Auric bloomin’ Goldfinger.
In the on-going quest for peace in our golfing time, though, the cordial clatter and batter about the links has been viewed as another step in the right direction for a men's professional game that remains so fractured, it just about needs a cast and splint.
While South Africa's veteran campaigner Darren Fichardt set a scintillating pace at Kingsbarns with an 11-under 61, another South African, the Dunhill Links supremo Johann Rupert, was just as enthused by the genial scene involving two of global golf's most powerful figures.
"I have known Jay (Monahan) for a very long time, and I have got to know his Excellency (Al-Rumayyan) as well and they both only have the best interests of golf at heart," suggested Rupert. "We need to keep on having days like today. Golf is supposed to be a maker of friends.
"We have a war going on in Ukraine and a terrible situation in the Middle East and another war going on in Sudan and we argue about golf? Surely all we want to do is see the best players in the world playing together."
In the grand scheme of life and all that. It's not a bad old life, meanwhile, when you're playing three of Scotland's best links courses in beautiful autumnal weather.
Fichardt certainly enjoyed it. The 49-year-old posted his lowest competitive round since 2001 as he took advantage of the inviting, benign conditions and delivered a lively card which featured nine birdies and two eagles.
"That was sweet," he said with a beam as a bright as a halogen headlamp after finishing a stroke ahead of Australia's John Cameron.
"I had a really poor three-putt on my second hole and I was like 'oh, my goodness, it’s going to be a grind today'. But then I made something like a 100-foot putt for eagle on the next hole and the train just kept on going."
Scotsman David Law is well aware that he needs to get going too. While his compatriot, Scott Jamieson, opened with a fine nine-under 63 at Kingsbarns, Law finished just a shot behind him after a 64 over the same course.
At a lowly 141st on the Race to Dubai rankings, Law is running out of time in his battle keep his DP World Tour card.
With its whopping prize fund, though, the Dunhill Links has been the saviour of many a struggling Scot down the seasons and Law, a winner on the tour back in 2019, is hoping he too can give himself a timely tonic on home turf.
"I’m aware of the situation that I’m in," said Law of his perilous position. "I need a big week, and this one is a fantastic opportunity. I know the golf I need to play, and this score was very pleasing."
Jamieson, who had missed five of his last six cuts, revelled in a return to his native land and conjured an eagle and seven birdies in a neatly assembled round.
"What’s not to love?," smiled the 40-year-old. "You’ve got Scotland, the sun is out, no wind. It’s pretty much the perfect day, isn’t it?"
Robert MacIntyre, who is partnering his dad, Dougie, in the pro-am team contest, opened with a five-under 67 at Carnoustie and was joined on that mark by Fifer, Connor Syme.
Most of the star attractions were over at Carnoustie with Rory McIlroy, who is teaming up with his old man Gerry, posting a three-under 69. "Definitely room for improvement there for both of the McIlroys," he said with a wry grin.
Jon Rahm, the most high-profile defector to the LIV Golf series that is bankrolled by the aformentioned Al-Rumayyan, got up and running with a seven-under 65.
As for those on-going peace talks? "I feel like we've all gone down that road before and been mistaken," said a cautious Rahm. "I won't let myself believe anything until it is actually true. I hope so."
We all live in hope, eh?
