While South Africa’s veteran campaigner Darren Fichardt set a scintillating pace at Kingsbarns with an 11-under 61, another South African, the Dunhill Links supremo Johann Rupert, was just as enthused by the genial scene involving two of global golf’s most powerful figures.

Monahan and Al-Rumayyan will also each play a round with Rory McIlroy, the most vocal PGA Tour player for unification.

LIV Golf boss Yasir Al-Rumayyan is playing alongside PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, but may have fallen foul of a local rule

Jay Monahan and Yasir Al-Rumayyan are both in action at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, with the pair coming face-to-face on the opening day of the tournament

Rory McIlroy has welcomed the presence of the key figures in golf’s civil war in this week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and expects news on a deal “definitely before the year’s end”. PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan is partnering Billy Horschel in the pro-am event and will be in the same group as Yasir Al-Rumayyan,