ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — Darren Fichardt shot an 11-under 61 at Kingsbarns to steer the multi-course Dunhill Hyperlinks Championship on Thursday after a low-scoring first spherical notable for the presence of two of probably the most highly effective males in golf who’re in search of to succeed in 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 match which pairs an expert with an newbie for 3 rounds at storied Scottish programs St. Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.
Extra vital than the scores of Monahan and Al-Rumayyan was perhaps their actions, and so they had 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 area.
All had been chasing Fichardt, a South African ranked No. 462 who made 9 birdies and two eagles on what seemed to be enjoying the simplest course. Eight of the very best 11 scores within the first spherical got here at Kingsbarns and so they 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 coated his first 16 holes in 11 underneath. Nonetheless, he three-putted No. 8 — his seventeenth gap — earlier than making a birdie on the ninth.
Three gamers had 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 enjoying 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.
Rory McIlroy, the highest-ranked participant within the area at No. 3, additionally performed Carnoustie alongside his father, Gerry, and shot 69.
“It was an ideal day to play Carnoustie,” McIlroy mentioned. “I most likely didn’t fairly reap the benefits of the circumstances the best way 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 instantly behind Monahan and Al-Rumayyan, who had been concerned in conferences in New York on Sept. 11 and 12 as they tried to work out a deal wherein PIF would grow to be a minority investor in PGA Tour Enterprises.
