As the potential PIF-PGA Tour-DP World Tour merger continues to rumble on in the background with more questions than answers, the governor of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) Yasir Al-Rumayyan was enlisted under the name ‘Andrew Waterman’ as he takes his place among the amateur playing partners of the professionals at this week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship being held at St. Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.
First reported by Martin Dempster of The Scotsman, Al-Rumayyan had been invited by Johann Rupert, the main driving force behind the popular Fife event which regularly sees top-name celebrities join some of the DP World Tour’s finest. His name on the starting list has since been amended to the correct format, where he is due to team up with LIV player Peter Uihlein and play in the same group as R&A Chief Executive Martin Slumbers.
Slumbers, who teams with Englishman Jordan Smith, reportedly met Al-Rumayyan in July at the 151st Open Championship where he refused to rule out the possibility of Saudi investment in future championships.
“If I’m very open, we are and do and continue to do, talk to various potential sponsors,” said Slumbers. “We have a number of large corporate partners that help us make this thing happen. I think the world has changed in the last year. It’s not just golf. You’re seeing it in football. You’re seeing it in F1. You’re seeing it in cricket. I’m sure tennis won’t be that far behind.
“The world of sport has changed dramatically in the last 12 months, and it is not feasible for the R&A or golf to just ignore what is a societal change on a global basis. We will be considering within all the parameters that we look at all the options that we have.”
Uihlein is one of four LIV golfers teeing it up this week, along with Talor Gooch, Laurie Canter and Louis Oosthuizen, the latter famously winning the 2010 Open Championship on the hallowed grounds of St. Andrews in runaway fashion.
As non DP World Tour members, all four hadn’t faced any sanctions for playing on the LIV circuit without official releases and, like Al-Rumayyan, are all present on sponsors’ invitations at the request of Rupert.
Al-Rumayyan, who is also chairman of Newcastle Football Club, is expected to arrive on Wednesday night following the Champions League clash where the Magpies play host to Paris St. Germain at St. James’ Park.
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