LIV Golf’s Peter Uihlein, taking part in with Saudi boss, leads at St. Andrews3 min read

A shocking title leads the Alfred Dunhill Hyperlinks Championship after spherical one.

American Peter Uihlein, who now performs for LIV Golf, carded an 8-under 64 at St. Andrews on Thursday. He sits on the high of the leaderboard with Sebastian Söderberg of Sweden and Adri Arnaus of Spain.

He did so whereas taking part in alongside Yasir al-Rumayyan, the governor of the Saudi Arabian Public Funding Fund (PIF) and the person accountable for LIV Golf. Curiously, al-Rumayyan was rostered beneath the pseudonym Andrew Waterman earlier than it turned public who was really taking part in.

Just like the AT&T Pebble Peach Professional-Am on the PGA Tour, gamers in Scotland this week are joined by an novice participant, who is commonly a celeb.

Therefore al-Rumayyan taking part in with Uihlein, who misplaced to David Howell in a playoff on the 2013 Alfred Dunhill Hyperlinks Championship.

“I used to be shut right here,” Uihlein stated after the spherical. “On the time, I didn’t know, however trying again on it, that might have been actually particular to win round right here. I’ve at all times loved coming again, and yeah, hopefully, I string collectively three extra good days and see what occurs.”

Photograph by David Cannon/Getty Photographs

Uilhein joined LIV Golf in June 2022, only one week earlier than Matt Fitzpatrick gained the U.S. Open at Brookline.

Since becoming a member of the Saudi-backed circuit, Uilhein has recorded 5 top-10 finishes, together with a fifth-place end at LIV Golf – Chicago, the league’s most up-to-date event.

He competes for the 4 Aces group, captained by two-time main champion Dustin Johnson. Pat Perez and Patrick Reed are additionally members of the group.

The 4 Aces presently sit first within the LIV Golf group standings, which should impress al-Rumayyan.

However Uihlein’s play on Thursday will need to have galvanized the PIF Governor too.

But, no reporter requested Uilhelin about his taking part in accomplice, which is fascinating since Uihelin is the primary lively LIV golfer to play in a DP World Tour occasion.

Curiously, Uihlein and al-Rumayyan performed their first rounds with Martin Slumbers, the CEO of the R&A, who’s paired up with Englishman Jordan Smith.

Then, for Friday’s second spherical, Uihlein has been paired with younger South African Jayden Schape. Peter Dawson, the previous CEO of the R&A and present chairman of the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) board, is Schape’s novice accomplice.

So Dawson and al-Rumayyan will doubtless have a lot to debate when their group tees it up at Carnoustie. A report on Thursday indicated that the OWGR is “shut” to figuring out whether or not or not LIV Golf occasions will award OWGR factors.

It’s no coincidence that the DP World Tour paired al-Rumayyan with two of probably the most influential figures in golf, particularly for the reason that PGA Tour and the PIF have till Dec. 31, 2023, to finalize an settlement.

Nonetheless, Uihlein and al-Rumayyan fared nicely on Thursday within the group competitors, combining to shoot a 9-under 63.

Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By way of. You possibly can observe him on Twitter @jack_milko for extra golf protection. You’ll want to try @_PlayingThrough too.