Nicolas Colsaerts from Belgium and Cameron John from Australia are tied for the lead at the Dunhill Links Championship, where lesser-known players outperformed the big names on Friday.
Jon Rahm, part of the LIV Golf group, struggled with two bogeys in his last three holes, finishing with a 71 at Kingsbarns, leaving him six shots behind. Rory McIlroy, playing alongside PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, scored a 69 at Kingsbarns, putting him eight shots back.
Colsaerts, a former Ryder Cup player now ranked No. 695, showcased his skills with eight birdies for a 7-under 65 at Carnoustie. John, ranked No. 1,007, began with a personal best of 62 and followed up with a 68 at St. Andrews, though he faced challenges with a double bogey after hitting two shots from a pot bunker on the par-5 fifth hole.
They both sit at 14-under 130, just one shot ahead of David Law from Scotland (No. 454) and Darren Fichardt from South Africa (No. 462). Law is working to secure his European tour card and shot a 67 at St. Andrews. Fichardt, who started with a career-best 61, managed only a 72 on the Old Course.
The tournament features teams of one professional and one amateur playing across three courses. It began with Monahan and Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund backing LIV Golf, playing together.
They are in talks about a potential deal for the Public Investment Fund to become a minority investor in the PGA Tour Enterprises. Monahan, playing with Billy Horschel, was joined by McIlroy and his father.
Al-Rumayyan partnered with LIV player Dean Burmester, who played alongside Johann Rupert from South Africa, a key figure in this tournament.
Rupert mentioned, “I have known Jay for a very long time, and I have got to know His Excellency (Al-Rumayyan) as well, and they both only have the best interests of golf at heart. We need to keep on having days like today. Golf is supposed to be a maker of friends.”
