NEWCASTLE chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan will compete in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship golf tournament this week.
But he has bizarrely entered the competition under the pseudonym Andrew Waterman.
Talks are ongoing between Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund [PIF] and the PGA Tour and DP World Tour over the possibility of a merger.
Al-Rumayyan, 53, who is the governor of PIF, did not go to the Ryder Cup as he did not want to distract from the event.
However, according to The Times, he will appear in the pro-am Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews this week.
He will play alongside Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews [R&A] CEO Martin Slumbers.
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It is unclear why Al-Rumayyan is playing under a pseudonym.
But he is one of several LIV Golf representatives at the tournament.
Talor Gooch, Louis Oosthuizen, Hudson Swafford and Peter Uihlein are also expected to appear.
Al-Rumayyan reportedly received his invitation for the event from sponsors Johann Rupert – the chairman of the Swiss luxury goods firm Compagnie Financiere Richemont – of which the Dunhill brand is a part of.
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It is not the first time Al-Rumayyan has appeared in a pro-am, but his presence this week is particularly relevant considering talks around the merger.
In the summer, Al-Rumayyan met with St Andrews boss Slumbers and the golf head did not rule out investment from Saudi Arabia.
It was previously revealed at a US Senate hearing that Newcastle co-owner Amanda Staveley had suggested Al-Rumayyan become a member of the R&A as part of negotiations.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
