PGA Tour commissioner, Saudi fund governor paired at pro-am

Three weeks after PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan met with Saudi Arabia’s monetary backer of LIV Golf, they are going to be collectively once more this week in Scotland, this time contained in the ropes.

Monahan and Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of the Public Funding Fund that helps the PGA Tour’s rival league, are taking part in collectively within the Dunhill Hyperlinks Championship on the European tour. The match begins Thursday.

Monahan is paired with Billy Horschel, whereas Al-Rumayyan is taking part in with Dean Burmester of South Africa, one in all 14 gamers from LIV Golf within the area.

Within the group immediately behind them Thursday at Carnoustie will probably be Rory McIlroy, who will probably be taking part in together with his father.

Monahan and Al-Rumayyan have been concerned in conferences in New York on Sept. 11 and 12 as the 2 sides attempt to work out a deal by which PIF would turn into a minority investor in PGA Tour Enterprises and so they attempt to determine a group idea and produce the edges collectively.

The PGA Tour has banned gamers who defected to LIV Golf, which launched in June 2022. The European tour has allowed gamers to return to sure occasions supplied they maintain sanctions, a mixture of suspensions and fines.

Jon Rahm is taking part in the Dunhill whereas he appeals his fines. A ruling on that — an unbiased panel beforehand dominated in favor of the European tour — will not be anticipated till subsequent 12 months.

Man Kinnings, the CEO of the European tour, additionally was a part of the New York conferences and will probably be on the Dunhill Hyperlinks. Kinnings expressed optimism that discussions have been headed in the suitable path though he stated, “Lengthy solution to go. A variety of element, sophisticated stuff to be finished.”

There had been concern negotiations had stalled with little motion since June. The LIV Golf League ended on Sept. 22, and the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup playoffs ended on the finish of August.

The match pairs an expert with an newbie for 3 rounds at St. Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns. Al-Rumayyan additionally performed within the Dunhill a 12 months in the past. Monahan has sometimes performed within the AT&T Pebble Seaside underneath an identical format.