The Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational series arrived in Oregon on Thursday for its first tournament on American soil and faced protests from 9/11 survivors and families of victims who criticized golfers for working with the Saudi Arabia, which they say was complicit in the 2001 terrorist attacks. “Saudi Arabia is trying to clear its reputation through sports,” said Sean Passananti, whose father died in the attacks, during a press conference at the event at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club near Portland, Oregon. “Instead of admitting their support and funding of al-Qaeda, they are trying through the honorable game of golf to buy legitimacy.” . Fifteen of the 19 al-Qaeda terrorists who hijacked four planes were Saudi nationals, but the Saudi government has denied any involvement in the attacks. The 9/11 Commission established by Congress said in 2004 that it found “no evidence that the Saudi government, either as an institution or senior Saudi officials, individually funded” al-Qaeda. the FBI has released a document that details FBI work to investigate alleged logistical support that a Saudi consular official and a suspected Saudi intelligence agent in Los Angeles provided to at least two hijackers. The 9/11 issue is just one of many critiques in the LIV Golf series. Led by former world number 1 Greg Norman, the team-based LIV series is backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), a sovereign wealth fund chaired by Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia. Arabia – and has pledged to award a total of $250 million in prizes. Tournaments are played over 54 holes, rather than the PGA Tour’s 72 holes, and no player is cut during the tournament. The huge sums of money up for grabs and lower demands have spurred a number of golfers – many in the twilight of their careers – to break away from the PGA Tour and join LIV, including six-time Major winner Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka , four-time major champion and former world No. 1 Dustin Johnson. LIV is expected to hold six more events around the world in the coming months, including Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, as well as Boston, Chicago and Miami. A coalition of families and 9/11 survivors sent an open letter on June 10 to several players participating in the LIV Golf Series, calling on them to reconsider their participation. Brett Eagleson, whose father died on September 11, told Thursday’s press conference that he planned to be in Bedminster next month to protest. are we not going anywhere. Every tournament you’re going to have to deal with us in more numbers, more stories, from families,” Eagleson said. “We’re going to be up against you in every tournament that’s on American soil.” Why the Saudi-backed LIV is controversial given its dismal human rights record Bin Salman was named in a US intelligence report as responsible for approving the operation that led to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, although he denied any involvement.Human rights groups have also criticized the country for its executions and its treatment of gay people.Mickelson has tried to heed these issues in a controversial 2021 interview with author Alan Shipnuck for his book “Phil: The Rip-Roaring (and Unauthorized!) Biog Raphie of Golf’s Most Colorful Superstar. Yet Mickelson also admitted he would consider joining the league anyway because it gave golfers “leverage” to change how the PGA Tour works. He later apologized, saying his comments were “reckless”. Saudi Arabia. President Joe Biden once pledged to make the country a ‘pariah’ for his killing of Khashoggi, but earlier this month the White House said he planned to meet with Saudi officials, including bin Salman , in July. Despite the criticism, LIV held their first tournament in London earlier this month. South African Charl Schwartzel won the first individual competition in stroke play, while Mickelson finished in 34th place. Earlier this month, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan announced that all golfers playing in the breakaway series would no longer be eligible to play in PGA Tour tournaments. LIV released a statement in early June calling the PGA’s decision “vengeful”. “It is certainly not the last word on this subject. The era of free agency begins as we are proud to have a full group of players joining us in London and beyond.” Monahan also acknowledged last week that LIV poses a serious threat. to the success of the PGA Tour. “If this is an arms race and the only weapons here are dollar bills, the PGA Tour can’t compete,” he said. “The PGA Tour, an American institution, cannot compete with a foreign monarchy spending billions of dollars trying to buy the game of golf.” We welcome good and healthy competition. The LIV Saudi Golf League is not that. It is an irrational threat; who doesn’t care about ROI or the true growth of the game.”
The Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational series arrived in Oregon on Thursday for its first tournament on American soil and faced protests from 9/11 survivors and families of victims who criticized golfers for working with the Saudi Arabia, which they claim was complicit in the 2001 terrorist attacks.
“Saudi Arabia is trying to clear its reputation through sport,” Sean Passananti, whose father died in the attacks, told a news conference during the protest at the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club near Portland, Oregon. . “Instead of admitting their support and funding of al-Qaeda, they are trying through the honorable game of golf to buy legitimacy.”
Allegations of Saudi government complicity in the September 11, 2001, attacks have long been the subject of controversy in Washington. Fifteen of the 19 al-Qaeda terrorists who hijacked four planes were Saudi nationals, but the Saudi government has denied any involvement in the attacks. The 9/11 Commission established by Congress said in 2004 that it found “no evidence that the Saudi government as an institution or senior Saudi officials individually funded” al-Qaeda.
Still, the families of the victims have pushed for new revelations, and last year the FBI released a document that details the FBI’s work to investigate alleged logistical support that a Saudi consular official and a Saudi intelligence agent alleged in Los Angeles provided at least two hijackers.
The September 11 issue is just one of many reviews of the LIV Golf series.
Led by former world No. 1 Greg Norman, the team-based LIV series is backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) – a sovereign wealth fund chaired by Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia – and promised to award $250 million in total prize money. Tournaments are played over 54 holes, rather than the PGA Tour’s 72 holes, and no player is cut during the tournament.
The huge sums of money to be won and the lower demands have prompted a number of golfers – many in the twilight of their careers – to break away from the PGA Tour and join LIV, including six-time big winner Phil Mickelson, four – times great champion Brooks Koepka and former world No. 1 Dustin Johnson.
LIV is expected to host six more events around the world in the coming months, including Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, as well as Boston, Chicago and Miami.
A coalition of families and 9/11 survivors sent an open letter on June 10 to several players participating in the LIV Golf Series, calling on them to reconsider their participation.
Brett Eagleson, whose father died on September 11, told Thursday’s press conference that he planned to be in Bedminster next month to protest.
“An important message for these LIV golfers and the Kingdom is that we’re not going anywhere. Every tournament you’ll have to treat us more, more stories, from families,” Eagleson said. “We are going to be up against you for every tournament that takes place on American soil.”
Why the Saudi-backed LIV is controversial
Saudi Arabia is one of many countries that have used the lure of sports to try to whitewash other political concerns, a practice sometimes referred to as “sportswashing”.
The golfers have been heavily criticized for choosing to accept the country’s money given its dismal human rights record.
Bin Salman was named in a US intelligence report as responsible for approving the operation that led to the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, although he denied any involvement. Human rights groups have also criticized the country for carrying out mass executions and for its treatment of gay people.
Mickelson attempted to address these issues in a controversial 2021 interview with author Alan Shipnuck for his book “Phil: The Rip-Roaring (and Unauthorized!) Biography of Golf’s Most Colorful Superstar.”
Shipnuck quoted Mickelson saying disparaging things about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and claiming the kingdom had killed Khashoggi. Yet Mickelson also admitted he would consider joining the league anyway because it gave golfers “leverage” to change how the PGA Tour works.
He later apologized, saying his comments were “reckless”.
US political figures have faced very similar criticism for working with Saudi Arabia. President Joe Biden once pledged to make the country a ‘pariah’ for his killing of Khashoggi, but earlier this month the White House said he planned to meet with Saudi officials, including bin Salman , in July.
Despite the criticism, LIV held its first tournament in London earlier this month. South African Charl Schwartzel won the first individual competition in stroke play, while Mickelson finished in 34th place.
Earlier this month, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan announced that all golfers playing in the breakaway series would no longer be eligible to play in PGA Tour tournaments.
LIV released a statement in early June calling the PGA’s decision “vengeful”.
“It is troubling that the Tour, an organization dedicated to creating opportunities for golfers to play the game, is the entity that keeps golfers from playing,” the organization said. “It is certainly not the last word on this subject. The era of free agency begins as we are proud to have a full group of players joining us in London and beyond.”
Monahan also acknowledged last week that LIV poses a serious threat to the success of the PGA Tour.
“If this is an arms race and the only weapons here are dollar bills, the PGA Tour can’t compete,” he said. “The PGA Tour, an American institution, cannot compete with a foreign monarchy that spends billions of dollars trying to buy golf.
“We welcome good and healthy competition. The LIV Saudi Golf League is not that. It is an irrational threat, which does not care about return on investment or the true growth of the game.”
Comments are closed.