BREAKING NEWS ….
It’s not the result he sought but PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan would welcome an invitation to return to future Dunhill Links Championships.
Monahan made his debut in the $US 5m event teeing-up at Carnoustie on Thursday and paired Billy Horschel however, not all went well for the all-American team with Horschel missing the third round cut by a shot at 8-under while they fell well shy of being inside the top-20 on the team standings.
Monahan found his way into this year’s event thanks, in part, to both Dunhill Links Chairman, Johann Rupert and DP World Tour CEO, Guy Kinnings with the duo each being responsible for the ensuring the presence of both Yar Al-Rumayya, who is Governor of the Saudi PIF Fund and Monahan,
Al-Rumayya, who this year partnered LIV Golf South African-born Dean Burmester, made his debut in the year a year ago while this year as a first for Monahan, who partnered fellow American Billy Horschel.
Despite missing the cut, Monahan seemed to enjoy the three rounds as evident mixing with his various playing partners and caddies over the three days while he also got on well with spectators happy to sign autographs.
BREAKING @PGATOUR @DPWorldTour @livgolf_league NEWS ..
Commissioner Monahan tight-lipped on any ‘official get-together’ but admits he would to return to #dunhilllinks
Read: https://t.co/2vgslJXXiT
@golffile (Monahan speaks with Bernie @TOURMISS )
✅ @TOURMISS pic.twitter.com/2JkkB4eg5Z
— Golf & Science News (@TOURMISS) October 5, 2024
While Monahan declined not to talk of the nature of any ‘off-course’ meetings with Al-Rumayya he did agree to talk post Saturday’s round on the three rounds.
“It was an awesome week, incredible”, said Monahan.
“To play these courses inside the ropes with Billy (Horschel), and to have three great pairings while I guess (smiling) the weather is also like this all the time.
“After watching this event for so many years on TV and knowing how important it is for the fans and the DP World Tour, and to the game of golf and having this experience has been fantastic. I’ve played at Pebble Beach in the past and events like the American Express that are special experiences and now to have played these three golf courses has been just fabulous.
“The crowds here have been phenomenal and to be here at the Home of Golf has just been great, and with a lot of fans out here today”, he said.
Monahan singled out Rupert for special praise not only for this 23rd hosting of the Dunhill Links but all the champion South African-born has done for the game of golf.
“Johann deserves a ton of credit for all he’s done for the game and this is going back decades”, Monahan said. “I believe this is the 23rd year that Dunhill has sponsored the event and Johann is a man of the world. So, it was a very important week and wonderful to be part of it”.
Monahan was asked if he liked the ‘model’ of mixing DP World Tour players with a record number this year of LIV attached players including the likes of Jon Rahm, Louis Oosthuizen and also Tyrrell Hatton, a twice winner of the event as a DP World Tour star but now taking a one-shot lead into the final round as a LIV player.
“Look, I completely enjoyed the experience this week and I think what they’ve done here is very special and it’s been great being a part of it”, he said.
Of course, Monahan is no stranger to being in attendance at ‘regular’ DP World events given he is a member of the DP World Tour Board of Directors.
“I’ve learned a lot about the DP World Tour being on the board, as I am, while I talk a lot with Guy Kinnings (CEO, DP World Tour) as much as anybody I would talk to”, he said.
“I think anytime you travel the world to attend golf tournaments there are always things that I learn. Certainly, I learned a lot this week.
“And look, whenever anyone speaks about the world, and the golf world the way I look at it when they are talking about ‘our’ commitment, they are talking about the PGA Tour but I think this is such an exciting time of the year and in the ‘Race’ (Race to Dubai), so it all promises when they get to Dubai it is going to be one heck of a week”.
Monahan was asked if he would like to return to the Dunhill Links in 12 months.
“I would love to come back but I don’t want to put Billy (Horschel) through that again”, he said smiling.
And what was Monahan’s Dunhill Championship … Shot of the Week?
“On the eighth hole today, I hit a rather poor iron shot into the green, missed the green and I had to be about 75-feet shy of the hole and knocked in it!”, he said.