ST. ANDREWS (Scotland) — It has been a long time since Maurice Flitcroft, a bold who tried to hoax himself into Open qualification back in the days by using false names and fake mustaches, that there was such intrigue stirred up by a golfing name de plume.
The pseudonym of “Andrew Waterman”, which appeared on the drawing sheet for the $5 Million Pro-Am competition, was changed at the last moment to reveal the true identity.
Yasir al-Rumayyan was the man in charge. It was Yasir Al-Rumayyan.
Peter Uihlein was one of four LIV rebels who competed this week and it was therefore fitting that he ended up with a share of lead after the opening day of the tournament. He shot 72 on Friday, and is now five shots behind the leader Matt Fitzpatrick.
Uihlein was invited to the Dunhill Links event by Johann Rupert. Al-Rumayyan was his amateur partner, and the group also included Martin Slumbers, the chief executive of the R&A.
Did Al-Rumayyan or Slumbers have any juicy conversations about Saudi involvement in golf’s future as they walked up to their balls on the 15th hole of Miss Grainger’s Bosoms?
A stern-faced security guard intervened quickly when a small group of golf journalists approached Al-Rumayyan to have a quick chat at the end of the first round.
Peter Uihlein makes a surge with three birdies in his final four holes @carnoustiegolf and joins the lead at -10. pic.twitter.com/NVM5JuHoU5
Alfred Dunhill Links championship (@dunhilllinks October 6, 2023
Al-Rumayyan managed to say “It’s great,” before he was carted away. It’s likely that he was talking about the chance to play at the Dunhill Links. Maybe he was expressing his delight at being free of the golf scribblers.
As for Uihlein? He let his clubs speak for him. All that and a rebel with a purpose. Uihlein was just a few inches away from a magical score of 59 when he played the Old Course in Dunhill Links Championship 10 years ago. Since then, a lot has changed.
Uihlein, along with a number of other global stars, sacrificed his PGA Tour Membership to defect to LIV Series in the last year. The golfing landscape was shattered by an event similar to that of the megameteor which wiped out the dinosaurs.
In the turbulent months following, the PGA Tour announced an armistice, and revealed plans to work with the PIF (which is governed Al-Rumayyan). Rupert, who was quoted as saying that “sport should unite, not divide people. We need peace.” on the eve before the Dunhill Links.
Uihlein agreed, a former DP World Tour Rookie of the Year when he first started out in Europe. When asked if professional golf could move past the division and rancor, he replied: “I certainly hope so.” In his quotes, I believe Mr. Rupert has hit the nail on the head. Golf brings people closer together. Time will tell.
I’m not privy of what happens behind closed doors. It’s great that Johann has extended an olive branch, and Al-Rumayyan is here.
Uihlein had a great opening round at the Old Course, with four birdies on his first five holes and a birdie putting of nearly 50 feet on hole 14.
“I am just trying to take advantage of this opportunity,” said Uihlein who finished 10th in this race a year earlier.
What about his partnership with his Saudi paymaster?
He smiled. “All the LIV boys were out on other courses, so it was nice having a little comfort there.” “I didn’t think I was the only one.”
