ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — Darren Fichardt shot an 11-under 61 at Kingsbarns to guide the multi-course Dunhill Hyperlinks Championship on Thursday after a low-scoring first spherical notable for the presence of two of essentially the most highly effective males in golf who’re searching for to achieve a deal to heal the fractured sport.
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the monetary backer of Saudi-funded LIV Golf, performed in the identical group on Day 1 of a event which pairs knowledgeable with an beginner for 3 rounds at storied Scottish programs St. Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.
The PGA Tour commish, PIF governor and their companions have been grouped for the primary spherical at Carnoustie.
Extra essential than the scores of Monahan and Al-Rumayyan was perhaps their actions, they usually have been seen sharing some laughs and an embrace throughout their spherical at Carnoustie. Monahan was paired with Billy Horschel whereas Al-Rumayyan performed with Dean Burmester, considered one of 14 LIV gamers within the subject.
All have been chasing Fichardt, a South African ranked No. 462 who made 9 birdies and two eagles on what seemed to be taking part in the simplest course. Eight of the perfect 11 scores within the first spherical got here at Kingsbarns they usually included No. 1,007-ranked Cameron John, who was in second place after taking pictures 9 birdies and an eagle in a 62.
Fichardt had an opportunity to shoot solely the second 59 in DP World Tour historical past when he lined his first 16 holes in 11 beneath. Nonetheless, he three-putted No. 8 — his seventeenth gap — earlier than making a birdie on the ninth.
Three gamers have been tied for third place, two pictures off the lead, after rounds of 63. Scott Jamieson of Scotland and Andrew Wilson of England shot that rating at Kingsbarns.
Jon Rahm is taking part in the Dunhill whereas he appeals fines handed out by the European tour following his defection to LIV, and the Spaniard shot 7-under 65 at Carnoustie, which was the bottom rating there.
HLs: Alfred Dunhill Hyperlinks Championship, Spherical 1
Try the perfect pictures and prime moments from the primary spherical of motion within the Alfred Dunhill Hyperlinks Championship at St Andrews’ Previous Course, the Championship Course at Carnoustie and Kingsbarns in Scotland.
Rory McIlroy, the highest-ranked participant within the subject at No. 3, additionally performed Carnoustie alongside his father, Gerry, and shot 69.
“It was an ideal day to play Carnoustie,” McIlroy stated. “I in all probability didn’t fairly reap the benefits of the situations the way in which that I wished to or ought to have, however a strong spherical and one thing to attempt to construct upon tomorrow at Kingsbarns.
“It’s my dad’s sixty fifth birthday on Saturday so to have the ability to stroll across the Previous Course (at St. Andrews) with him goes to be a reasonably cool event.”
The McIlroys performed within the group straight behind Monahan and Al-Rumayyan, who have been concerned in conferences in New York on Sept. 11 and 12 as they tried to work out a deal during which PIF would develop into a minority investor in PGA Tour Enterprises.
