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For the first time since the Circuit Wars broke out, the leaders of the three major tours will meet on a course at the Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews.
What if the cradle of golf served as a crucible for a historic deal putting an end to the terrible circuit war that has been shaking up the golf world for three years?
In the Dunhill Links Championshipthe tournament of DP World Tour which begins Thursday in the “Home of Golf” at St Andrews in Scotland and where professional players and celebrities are involved in the first three rounds, Jay Monahanthe PGA Tour commissioner, will play alongside recent winner of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, Billy Horschel.
But in this part of Thursday which will start from the 10th in Carnoustie the boss of the American circuit will also be found Yasir Al-Rumayyanthe head of PIF, the Saudi Public Investment Fund behind the creation of the LIFE Golf.
The latter will take part in this unique meeting for the second time but this time no rumor has circulated concerning the possibility that Al-Rumayyan will use an assumed name as during the 2023 edition.
Three-cushion billiards
In addition to the two key figures in this rivalry between circuits, it is necessary to underline the presence of the CEO du DP World Tour, Guy Kinningswho sided from the start with the American circuit by aligning himself with the decisions of the PGA Tour particularly with regard to the sanctions imposed on dissident players.
This information can be compared to the presence of 14 LIV players at the start of the Scottish triptych on three legendary courses in the County of Fife: the Old Course of St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.
Indeed Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Tyrrell Hatton, Patrick Reed or the American Taller Goochfor example were allowed to line up. (read here).
A sign which should indicate to Monahan that if no agreement is reached quickly, the possibility of a rapprochement between the LIV and the DP World Tour to create a new world golf order does indeed exist. And it would put an end to the strategic alliance between PGA Tour and DP World Tour signed at the end of 2021.
Rory’s role?
We are far from it since Kinnings’ objective remains a tripartite agreement in which the big stars of the PGA Tour decide to cross the Atlantic more often in order to perform all over the world: Europe, Middle East, Asia and Australia.
Finally note that Al-Rumayyan will also have the opportunity to discuss at length with a certain Rory McIlroyvery favorable to the creation of a world circuit on the 5 continents.
Indeed the Northern Irishman who distanced himself from the PGA Tour Players’ Council, undoubtedly due to dissensions with Jordan Spieth and Patrick Cantlay, very reluctant to broaden the horizons of the American circuit, will share the part of the Saudi businessman Saturday on the Old Course with his father Gerry.
©AFP/Getty
