AP PHOTOS: How Churchill embraces its title as polar bear capital of the world

CHURCHILL, Manitoba (AP) — When polar bears started coming to Churchill, tourists did too.

And then suddenly, polar bears began to appear everywhere — from artwork to cushion covers and even on beer cans — as residents of this remote Canadian town on Hudson Bay embraced their title as polar bear capital of the world.

Tourists are greeted with bear imagery wherever they go. At one hotel restaurant, a painting of three bears resting on the sea ice hangs high above dining tables. In a hotel room, a cushion features the animals spelling out “polar bear” as they strike various yoga-like poses. At a tour company gift shop, a giant blue sculpture of a bear welcomes customers outside the entrance.

But the bears are not just for tourists: one residential apartment building features a giant mural of a polar bear standing on its hind legs, peering into the town. Another mural, this one on the side of a business, features alternating images of polar bears painted in bright colors and beluga whales swimming in pairs. And readers at the town's public library share their space with a giant sculpture of a grinning bear, displayed prominently between the shelves.

In the town's grocery stores, too, shoppers can enjoy a “bluebeary” ale, with an illustration of a polar bear on the can.

Climate change, caused mostly by people burning coal, oil and gas, means that one day the local population of polar bears could almost disappear.

But as long as there are bears in Churchill, residents and tourists alike will continue to appreciate and memorialize them.

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People start a bonfire at sunset next to a sign warning them of polar bears, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Churchill, Manitoba. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

A garage displays a mural of a sleeping polar bear, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Churchill, Manitoba. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

A dumpster sits outside of the Tundra Pub, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Churchill, Manitoba. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

A sign alerts people to the potential presence of polar bears near a beach along the Hudson Bay, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Churchill, Manitoba. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

Tourists sit near a polar bear statue, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Churchill, Manitoba. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

A can of beer with a polar bear on its label sits on a shelf, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, at a market in Churchill, Manitoba. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

A pillow sits on a bed, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, at the Polar Inn and Suites in Churchill, Manitoba. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

Water reflects a mural featuring polar bears and beluga whales, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Churchill, Manitoba. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

Street signs featuring a polar bear and Indigenous tipis stand on a street corner, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Churchill, Manitoba. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

A polar bear sculpture greets patrons, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, at the Churchill Public Library in Churchill, Manitoba. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

A toy polar bear sits on the dashboard of a truck near an abandoned radar station, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Churchill, Manitoba. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

Patrons eat lunch below a mural depicting polar bears and other wildlife, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, at the Seaport Hotel in Churchill, Manitoba. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

The setting sun illuminates a mural of a polar bear on the side of an apartment building, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Churchill, Manitoba. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) — Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium and Cameron John of Australia shared the lead at the Dunhill Links Championship, where players ranked outside the top 400 in the world shaded the big names and top golf leaders on Friday.

Jon Rahm, one of 14 players from Saudi-funded LIV Golf in the field, bogeyed two of his last three holes for a 71 at Kingsbarns and was six shots behind. Rory McIlroy, playing in a group with PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, had a 69 at Kingsbarns and was eight back.

Colsaerts, a one-time Ryder Cup player who has fallen to No. 695 in the world, showed he hasn't lost his penchant for going low by making eight birdies for a 7-under 65 at Carnoustie.

John is No. 1,007 in the world ranking. He opened with a career-best 62 and followed that on Friday with a 68 at St. Andrews, his round slowed by taking two from a pot bunker and making double bogey on the par-5 fifth hole.

They were at 14-under 130, one shot ahead of David Law of Scotland (No. 454) and Darren Fichardt of South Africa (No. 462).

Law is trying to secure his European tour card and shot 67 at St. Andrews. Fichardt, who opened with a career-best 61, could manage only a 72 on the Old Course.

The tournament, featuring one professional and one amateur over three courses, began with Monahan playing alongside Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund that backs rival LIV Golf.

They are in the midst of trying to negotiate a deal in which the Public Investment Fund would become a minority investor in the commercial PGA Tour Enterprises.

Monahan, whose partner is Billy Horschel, played on Friday with McIlroy and his father. Al-Rumayyan has LIV player Dean Burmester as a partner. He played alongside golf power broker Johann Rupert of South Africa, who is largely responsible for this tournament.

Rupert told reporters on Thursday, "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.

“We have a war going on in Ukraine and a terrible situation in the Middle East and another war going on in Sudan and we argue about golf? Surely all we want to do is see the best players in the world playing together.”

The Dunhill Links through two days has provided an odd collection of players at the top, though the 41-year-old Colsaerts has been on a big stage previously.

He is best known for winning a fourballs match practically by himself at Medinah in the 2012 Ryder Cup. Colsaerts made eight birdies and an eagle as he and Lee Westwood beat Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker.

Colsaerts has only one win in the 12 years since that Ryder Cup, but found something at a tournament he loves playing.

“I've been playing pretty well since yesterday,” Colsaerts said. “St. Andrews, I really plotted my way around. But here (Carnoustie), it requires a little bit more of local knowledge. Having played in this definitely helps.”

He ran off three straight birdies around the turn, and then capped off three birdies in four holes late in the round, ending his run on the tough 17th.

“It all fit together,” Colsaerts said.

For McIlroy and Rahm and the other top players, they go to St. Andrews on Saturday. Monahan and Horschel will be with Rupert and Louis Oosthuizen, while McIlroy and his father play alongside Al-Rumayyan and Burmester.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Jay Monahan from the U.S. on the 10th on day one of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at Carnoustie, Angus, Scotland, Thursday Oct. 3, 2024. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, left, and Billy Horschel of the U.S. react on the first tee on day two of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at Kingsbarns, Fife, Scotland, Friday Oct. 4, 2024. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)

Rory McIlroy reacts after missing a putt on the first green on day two of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at Kingsbarns, Fife, Scotland, Friday Oct. 4, 2024. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)

Yasir Al Rumayyan tees off the third on day two of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at Kingsbarns, Fife, Scotland, Friday Oct. 4, 2024. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)