In pictures: PGA head Jay Monahan and Saudi PIF governor laugh and hug each other as they tee it up together

PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan and PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan have been hard at work over the last year trying to work out the merger. Today, they're together on the golf course. Seemingly on two ends of a deepening chasm in the sport of golf, Monahan and Al-Rumayyan were spotted sharing a hug as they teed it off at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

They were paired together for the first round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. Monahan was put with Billy Horschel, and Al-Rumayyan was linked with Louis Oosthuizen, who all form one of today's groups.

During the round, they were photographed laughing and hugging one another in a sight that would have been wholly surprising two years ago.

Monahan was initially anti-LIV Golf, as was most everyone who wasn't involved with or moving to the new tour. His stance eventually softened and was revealed with the shock announcement of the merger.

While there's still a lot more to be done as the merger is still not official and has not taken shape in golf, several people claim that the two may have hours on the course together to figure something out.

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Rory McIlroy praises pairing of Yasir Al-Rumayyan and Jay Monahan

The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship field comprises a mix of 14 LIV Golf players, DP World Tour stars, and a smattering of PGA Tour players. Notably, Jay Monahan and Yasir Al-Rumayyan are also paired up on Thursday.

Yasir Al-Rumayyan was on the course with Jay Monahan (Imagn)

Rory McIlroy praised the decisions made by Johann Rupert and believed that it could be a really good thing for the sport, saying (via GolfDigest):

“I think it’s a great thing and a good sign that Jay and Yasir are playing together. Obviously, we have quite a big contingent here from LIV playing in the event. What Johann Rupert is trying to do is bring the world of golf back together a bit, or force us all together. Whatever, he’s trying to do that,” Mcllroy said.

Dubbing it a step in the right direction, the Irish golfer further added:

“It’s certainly a step in the right direction. Time will tell if things go the way I want them to, or if they go the way a lot of people want them to go. But there have been a few good steps along the way and this is one of them," he added.

Mcllroy concluded by saying that while there was still time for the merger to materialize, but claimed everyone, including Jay Monahan and Yasir Al-Rumayyan, wanted to see golf come back together, and this tournament was one of the many steps in the right direction.