The PGA Tour commissioner wants to bring the best players in the world back together more than 19 months after the initial announcement of a framework agreement to bring the PIF, which bankrolls LIV Golf, on board as a minority partner. “I don’t think you’re ever close until you’re finalised,” Monahan said of the deal, which US president Donald Trump is helping facilitate. “Everything is moving forward with pace . . . there’s a general enthusiasm for getting this done.” Rory McIlroy said in his pre-tournament press conference for the Genesis Invitational that players had to put their egos aside and embrace a deal. “I think everyone has just got to get over it and we all have to say, ‘OK, this is the starting point and we move forward’,” he said. “We don’t look behind us, we don’t look to the past. “Whatever has happened has happened, and it’s been unfortunate. But reunification, how we all come back together and move forward, that’s the best thing for everyone. “If people have their feelings hurt because guys went or whatever, like who cares? Let’s move forward together and let’s just try to get this thing going again and do what’s best for the game.” McIlroy said the Strategic Sports Group, which is investing $1.5bn (€1.43bn) in PGA Tour Enterprises, wants to create a Formula One-style product and Monahan indicated that the DP World Tour will play a major role in the future shape of the tour. “There’s some unbelievable events on that schedule,” Monahan said. “We feel like the Race to Dubai is part of our schedule, part of our ecosystem.” Meanwhile, Lauren Walsh followed two early birdies with two back-nine bogeys to open with a level-par 72 in the PIF Saudi Ladies International at Riyadh Golf Club. She was tied for 58th, seven shots behind Korea’s Somi Lee, who shot 65 to lead by one stroke in damp conditions from Germany’s Esther Henseleit and England’s Annabell Fuller. In the team competition, the Team Kyriacou quartet of Steph Kyriacou, Olivia Cowan, Sara Kouskova and Liz Young lead on 18-under par with Walsh’s Team Thitikul – formed by Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul and Pornanong Phatlum and Germany’s Laura Fuenfstueck – three shots behind in a tie for fifth. On the HotelPlanner Tour, Max Kennedy opened with a six-under 67 in the NTT DATA Pro-Am at Fancourt. The Royal Dublin man (23) made seven birdies on The Links to finish the weather-delayed opening day tied for fifth place, three strokes behind South Africa’s Jacques Blaauw, who fired a nine-under-par 63 on the Outeniqua to claim the clubhouse lead. Heavy rain forced a lengthy suspension that resulted in two restarts as the three golf courses – The Links, Montagu and Outeniqua – recovered from the downpour. Clandeboye’s Jonathan Caldwell (40) made two birdies and a bogey in a one-under 71 on the Montagu to share 69th place with Ballymena’s Dermot McElroy, who had played nine holes at the same venue when play was suspended. Saudi Ladies International, 10.30am The Genesis Invitational, 5.30pm (Both live on Sky Sports)