PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan and his partner for the week, tour player Billy Horschel, are playing the first round at Carnoustie with Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of the Saudi Arabian Investment Fund, which finances competitor LIV Golf, and LIV tour member Dean Burmester.
The DP World Tour event – Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is being played on a rotation of Carnoustie, Kingsbarns and the Old Course, with the final round at the Old Course in St Andrews after the field is trimmed to the top 60 pros (including ties) and the leading 20 teams.
One of PGA Tour’s literal biggest hitters and stars, Rory McIlroy, is partnered with his father Gerry. The McIlroys are grouped with Monahan and Horschel on Friday, and Al-Rumayyan and Burmester on Saturday.
Representatives of the two tours reportedly met in New York on Sept. 11. A member of the PGA Tour Enterprises transaction subcommittee with Tiger Woods and Adam Scott, which is negotiating with the PIF, McIlroy is optimistic that the talks might bring a conclusion “definitely before the year’s end.”
📌 Fowler’s Equipment Tweaks: Rickie Fowler is set to make three different equipment changes this week in Scotland.
He is adding a TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper into the bag that’s equipped with a Mitsubishi Diamana WB 73TX shaft. Throughout 2024, Fowler has used a standard-sized 3-wood head at 13.5 degrees.
As for the irons, Fowler is switching to a new, black version of his previous Cobra King Tour irons (4-PW), which means the change here is mostly just cosmetic.
Additionally, he is going with an L.A.B. Golf DF3 mallet putter at a standard 34.5 inches, equipped with a TPT shaft and an L.A.B. Press Pistol grip.
