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.

"There's no better place than the home of golf to try and get everyone together and talking," McIlroy told BBC Northern Ireland. "I think it's a great thing and good sign that Jay and Yasir are going to play together.

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