PIF boss Yasir Al-Rumayyan and Jay Monahan join Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka at Alfred Dunhill Links Championship - Reports

The PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and the PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan will be at the same venue for the first time since the divide. The duo will compete in the 2024 Alfred Dunhill Links Championships at St. Andrews and two other golf courses from October 3rd.

According to the Telegraph, Monahan will play the DP World Tour event with Billy Horschel. The Saudi PIF governor Al-Rumayyan is also expected to compete in the event for the second time in two years.

The report adds that the DP World Tour chief executive, Guy Kinnings, and chairman Eric Noicoli will also be present at the venue for the 2024 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

The PIF and PGA Tour merger talks have been in progress for over a year, but no concrete progress has been made toward completing the deal. The merger is facing plenty of hurdles, but this week, where both Monahan and the PIF boss are competing, could prove vital.

Jay Monahan to compete in the 2024 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. Source: Getty

Notably, 14 LIV golfers are competing in the 2024 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, as their 2024 season ended a couple of weeks ago. The field has prominent names like Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm, Patrick Reed, Tyrrell Hatton, etc., as pros, while some prominent celebrities from various fields will be in the field as amateurs.

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Jay Monahan says talks with PIF have reached the 'enhanced' stage.

The PGA Tour, PIF, and DP World Tour signed an agreement to ally in 2023, but the deal hasn't gone through. During the press conference of the PGA Tour season finale, the Tour Championship, Jay Monahan said:

"I would say that the priority, it's been enhanced. It's stronger. That's a direct result of dialogue and conversation and really starting to talk about the future, future product vision, and where we can take our sport. I think when you get into productive conversations, that enhances the likelihood of positive outcomes, and that enhances the spirit of those very conversations. I think that's where things stand."

The 54-year-old PGA Tour commissioner then revealed they are in regular talks. He added:

"When you look at where we are right now, we're in regular dialogue. We have the right people at the table with the right mindset. I see that in all of these conversations, and that's both sides. That creates optimism about the future and our ability to come together. But at the same time, these conversations are complex. They're going to take time. They have taken time, and they will continue to take time."