While South Africa’s veteran campaigner Darren Fichardt set a scintillating pace at Kingsbarns with an 11-under 61, another South African, the Dunhill Links supremo Johann Rupert, was just as enthused by the genial scene involving two of global golf’s most powerful figures.

"There's no better place than the home of golf to try and get everyone together and talking," McIlroy told BBC Northern Ireland. "I think it's a great thing and good sign that Jay and Yasir are going to play together.

Rory McIlroy has welcomed the presence of the key figures in golf’s civil war in this week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and expects news on a deal “definitely before the year’s end”. PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan is partnering Billy Horschel in the pro-am event and will be in the same group as Yasir Al-Rumayyan,