ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — Darren Fichardt shot an 11-under 61 at Kingsbarns on Thursday to steer the multicourse Dunhill Hyperlinks Championship after a low-scoring first spherical notable for the presence of the 2 strongest males in golf, males are looking 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 that pairs an expert with an beginner for 3 rounds at storied Scottish programs St. Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.
Extra vital than the scores of Monahan and Al-Rumayyan might need been 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 subject.
All had been chasing Fichardt, a South African ranked No. 462 who made 9 birdies and two eagles on what gave the impression to be taking part in as the simplest course. Eight of the perfect 11 scores within the first spherical got here at Kingsbarns, and people stellar scores included No. 1,007-ranked Cameron John, who was in second place after capturing 9 birdies and an eagle in a 62.
Fichardt had an opportunity to shoot solely the second 59 in European 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 had been tied for third place, two pictures off the lead, after rounds of 63, together with Scott Jamieson of Scotland and Andrew Wilson of England, who each shot that rating at Kingsbarns. Daniel Hillier shot his 63 on the Outdated Course at St. Andrews.
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 on that course.
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 mentioned. “I in all probability did not fairly benefit from the situations the best way that I needed to or ought to have, however a strong spherical and one thing to attempt to construct upon tomorrow at Kingsbarns.
“It is my dad’s sixty fifth birthday on Saturday, so to have the ability to stroll across the Outdated Course with him goes to be a reasonably cool event.”
The McIlroys performed within the group immediately behind Monahan and Al-Rumayyan, who had been concerned in conferences Sept. 11 and 12 in New York as they tried to work out a deal wherein PIF would turn out to be a minority investor in PGA Tour Enterprises.