YASIR AL-RUMAYYAN, chairman of the breakaway LIV golf tour, is among the field in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
As first reported by The Scotsman, Al-Rumayyan initially entered the event under a pseudonym, Andrew Waterman, and his real name was included among the field list yesterday afternoon.
The tournament is played across three of Scotland’s great courses – the old course at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns – and comprises two events run concurrently, a DP World Tour event among professional players and a team event in which a a professional is paired with an amateur.
Al-Rumayyan has been paired with LIV golfer Peter Uihlein, and will tee off today at St Andrew’s in a group with R&A CEO Martin Slumbers. There are another three LIV golfers in the field in Talor Gooch, Louis Oosthuizen and Laurie Canter. All are in the field courtesy of a sponsor’s invite.
Al-Rumayyan is also the chairman of the Saudi sovereign wealth fund PIF, which is currently in negotiations with the DP World Tour and PGA Tour following the publication of a framework agreement that would lead to an effective merger between the two organisations and the PIF-owned LIV tour.
The three courses will be played in rotation across the tournament’s first three days, with the top 60 and ties making the cut among professionals for the final day’s play at St Andrew’s, along with the top 20 teams.
Padraig Harrington will play alongside JP McManus, while Mark Power, who made his professional debut at the Irish Open last month, will play with AP McCoy. Also in the field are Tom McKibbin and John Murphy.
Three members of Europe’s Ryder Cup winners are teeing it up this week: Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Robert MacIntyre.
Gareth Bale is also among the amateurs involved.
Elsewhere, Lexi Thompson will become the seventh female golfer to play in a PGA Tour event when she tees it up at the Shriners Children’s Open next week, having accepted a sponsor’s invite to play. Thompson became the youngest woman to qualify for the US Women’s Open in 2007, aged just 12, and holds the record as the youngest LPGA champion, aged 16 years, seven months and eight days, after prevailing at the 2011 Navistar LPGA Classic.
Anyone who says my Ma and my Da should definitely play for Ireland.
@Logan Shepherd: Zinger right there .. and before 9am!
@Logan Shepherd: yep. And besides Ireland raised you…the school system, the health system, the social and cultural system…playing for Ireland is a way to say thank you. I think it is the right thing to do.
@Arya: the same for Declan rice except England raised him.
@Arya: by that logic half of our senior team shouldn’t play for ireland
@Eoin Murphy: but they have chosen to. They are or were not in a dilemma. He is and I am giving him one other point to help him make a choice.
@Eoin Murphy: exactly. And they shouldn’t
@Logan Shepherd: was the idea of tbe headline I’m pretty sure
@Logan Shepherd: was the idea of making that the headline I’m pretty sure
@Arya: He is not in dilemma at all. I can assure you that. His hope and prayer is to player for the first team That I am so sure of because I know where his heart is. He just needs to keep on working hard and scoring goals. That is all.
@Arya: He is not in dilemma at all. I can assure you that. His hope and prayer is to player for the first team. That I am so sure of because I know where his heart is. He just needs to keep on working hard and scoring goals. That is all.
@Earl A: if he’s good I hope he plays for us we need good players, regardless of where you come from or what nationality one of your family members is or whatever if your a talented footballer and willing to log all the miles m, stay in all the borderline serviceable hotels the FAI cheaply crafts out for you, put in the hours on the training ground, put aside club worries and sacrifice blood, sweat and tears for the jersey you can play for Ireland
Seems like a level headed kid. Wish him every success
Southampton is noted for its underage coaching and the lad finds out his weaknesses when he is leaving and only after asking? Something wrong there.
@kieran horgan: I’m sure he was given similar pointers as the year went on, didn’t see enough of an improvement or progression and then just came to a decision at the end of the season and cut him loose.
@Bruce van der Gutschmitzer: If you are so sure, then you must have inside information from southampton. Can you please share what you know? As an experienced person in football matters, I can tell you that clubs will tell you anything if they dont want you anymore. The most important thing is for Jonathan to continue to work harder and find a team where he will enjoy his football. Hope they do well at the euros as well.
@Earl A: bruce knows everything earl.
@Earl A: I just wouldn’t be so suspect about it is all I’m saying lads. Don’t get the aul laced knickers in a twisht! It would be my laymans logical assumption. This happens all the time. A young lad isn’t meetubgbthe expectations of management…they cut him loose. What’s to question?!
@Bruce van der Gutschmitzer: meeting the
Follow his heart.. what’s meant for you wont pass you by
@Jacqui Curtis-owens:
A truer story was never told.
@Jacqui Curtis-owens: namaste
@Jacqui Curtis-owens: Jennifer Aniston did
I’m genuinely stunned Southampton released him. He is a really top talent, with a strong presence, good eye for goal and being captained by Ireland shows leadership qualities. I really hope he gets a good club and continues to do well.
@Madra: we need all the players we can get
My ma….. Irish…
Not a good sign for the future being released by Southampton
@Michael Collins: well Southampton are the team that let the likes of Walcott and Bale leave so being shipped out of their isn’t always a bad sign
@Jake Kelly: they sold Bale and Walcott for massive money at the time. They didn’t release them for not being good enough
A bit cocky thinking he is too good for srfc
@tubbsyf: dont know how you came to that conclusion from reading this article
@Hugh Jass: Exactly. ““Not to sign, purely to keep fit,” he adds. “I’m keeping my options open at the moment, just concentrating on the Euros.” That doesn’t indicate thing one way or the other. It’s just a statement of fact.
@Damien Hawe: that’s to do with Rovers. He is focusing on playing in the UK or abroad. I think that’s fair enough. Plus Rovers are based in Tallaght where he is from.
He’s going to play in green one way or another.
That young lads only comment should be,right now im unattached, Im happy to give my all for Ireland who deem me good enough at the moment.judging by this article he may not be up to playing for either at senior level.
No dilemma. If he’s any good he’s Irish
Forget Nigeria Ireland is the only country for you….. COYBIG!
Next Messi?
In other words if Ireland continue to be sh/te at senior level he’ll switch to Nigeria. Let’s be honest who could blame him
Lets have a looj at him first,we might have to please his ma…
Why was my comment deleted by the Journal?
@Wild Goose: Hate to break to you, it was kinda racist. “His mother should be deported!”
If he has to even come out with this well then maybe it’s time he went Home !!!!!
@Alan McDonagh: Fortunately, Tallaght is home for him. So you may deport him to D24. :)