It was Louis Oosthuizen who enlightened me on the speech delivered to Dunhill Links players and guests by tournament chairman Johann Rupert at last Tuesday night’s official first night dinner get-together in St. Andrews.
Oosthuizen remarked Rupert’s address to guests was very much to the heart of what should be important to the world at large and that the main concern is not those involved in men’s pro golf being at loggered heads.
Johann Rupert day one 2024 Dunhill Links at Carnoustie – Image Getty
Rupert spoke with a handful of media earlier today post he and Oostuizen’s maiden 2024 Alfred Dunhill Links round at Carnoustie.
The famed and very affable 74-year-old Rupert was firstly asked if he could indicate how the appearance of PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and PIF Governor Yasif Al-Rumayyan at this year’s tournament came about.
“I’ve known Jay for a very, very long time and I got to know his excellency, and both only have the best interests of golf at heart”, said Rupert. “I think if we keep having days like to day …. Golf is supposed to maker friends.
“It was Guy Kinnings who asked one party whether he wouldn’t mind playing with the other party and I asked the other party.
“They both said ‘absolutely.’
“You know we’ve got a war going on in Ukraine and a terrible situation in the Middle East and we’ve got another war going on in Sudan that most non-Africans don’t even know about.
“And then we argue about golf. Surely all we want to do is see the best players in the world playing together and the majority of them would like it. It’s it what we are going doing this week,
“I think there has been a lot of misunderstandings about who did what and when. But I have known Jay for a very long time and I have got to know His Excellency as well and they both only have the best interests of golf at heart. I think if we keep on having days like today. Golf is supposed to be a maker of friends.”
Oosthuizen and Rupert will now head to Kingsbarns Links second round well down the ‘team’ leaderboard at two-under.
