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A return to the Home of Golf seems more meaningful this year, with a chance to mend fences for DP World Tour and LIV golfers
BY BRENDAN BARRATT
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The Women’s Open tees off at Royal Porthcawl
It's been two years since the Commissioner of the PGA Tour and the Governor of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), the financer of LIV Golf, were paired together in the opening round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Jay Monaghan and Yasir Al-Rumayyan may not have forged any concrete plans out on the testing fairways of Carnoustie, but the peace-making intent from tournament host Johann Rupert was obvious.
It's yet another example of the South African golfing benefactor pulling strings behind the scenes for the betterment of golf. Rupert is undoubtedly one of the most influential and well-respected figures in the world of golf.
He has, over the last 40 years, invested a reported $100-million in the sport, yet equally importantly, he remains a trusted advisor and voice of reason for many, including professional and amateur golfing administrators in South Africa. Not much happens in South African golf without Mr Rupert knowing about it, or without his stamp of approval.
The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, played over the gorgeous fairways of The Old Course, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie, is another of Rupert's significant contributions to the sport and, over its 25-year history, has become a highlight on the global golfing calendar. Much like the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on the PGA Tour, the tournament brings businesspeople, celebrities and sports stars together in a way that few other pursuits can.
It's a reminder of golf's power to unite people from different backgrounds and perspectives. Even different Tours.
For up-and-coming golfers who qualify for the event through some of the feeder tours, such as The PGA Tour of Australasia, the Asian Tour and the Sunshine Tour, the tournament presents an opportunity to experience a major event on the DP World Tour, play for some sizeable prizemoney, and possibly even play their way into Europe.
CELEBRITIES THIS YEAR
Ronan Keating – musician
Bill Murray – actor
Piers Morgan – broadcaster
Sir Steve Redgrave – Olympic rower
Ruud Gullit – footballer
Kevin Pietersen – cricketer
Kelly Slater – surfer
Huey Lewis – musician
Sir AP McCoy – horseracing
It worked for Rory McIlroy. A sponsor's invitation in 2007 saw the Northern Irishman tee it up at The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, where his third-place finish was enough to earn the rookie his full DP World Tour card.
'The tournaments Johann has put on here in St Andrews are one thing,' McIlroy said. 'He has been a great advocate for the game of golf. The support he has given to the South Africans is another thing, of course. So many great players owe a lot to him. I do too. He gave me an invite 17 years ago when he didn't have to. That was a week that changed my life. I'll always be grateful.'
World No 2 McIlroy is a glaring omission from this year's event and the Northern Irishman is likely to lose further ground to current Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed as the season draws to a close. He last played in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in 2024, and while he has never won it – he has three runner-up finishes – he tasted team success with his father Gerry in 2019.
McIlroy's absence is offset by the presence of some of the biggest names in European golf. And this year the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship will again present a chance for repairing fractured relationships. With LIV golfers facing an uncertain future following the withdrawal of PIF as its funder, Mr Rupert's peace-brokering efforts since the breakaway tour was launched in 2022 have kept the door open for its players.
Many will tee it up in Scotland, including a welcome return for former champion Lee Westwood (main image) and Ryder Cup hero Ian Poulter (top image), both of whom have reluctantly paid their DP World Tour fines – rumoured to be over $1-million – and will be easing their way back on to their former tour. It seems a smart move for two players likely to take up senior tour membership should LIV Golf fail to find a new sponsor.
A total of 25 players from the breakaway tour are due to tee it up, marking a significant increase from 16 players last year. Marquee players include Aussie Cameron Smith, the 2022 Open champion, two-time Masters champ Bubba Watson, former world No 1 Dustin Johnson (pictured above), and three-time champion Tyrell Hatton.
And while a return to the PGA Tour may be more complicated for LIV golfers, the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship seems to be paving a way forward for golf and a future where all of the world's best players are back competing against each other week in and week out.
No surprises that Johann Rupert is at the heart of it all, working his magic from behind the scenes.
Carl Fourie | Luke Walker | SUNSHINE TOUR
