PGA Tour attacked as 9/11 households ‘ashamed of hypocrisy’ after LIV Golf deal
The PGA Tour has been instructed it needs to be ashamed of itself by a bunch representing the households of 9/11 victims after agreeing to a controversial merger with the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf Tour.
The world of golf was left shocked on Tuesday when a joint assertion was issued by the PGA Tour, DW World Tour and LIV Golf, confirming that the three excursions had agreed to finish a struggle of litigation by agreeing to merge into one yet-to-be-named world tour.
LIV Golf is owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund who’ve induced unrest in world sport by capturing high stars with eye-watering contracts.
Golf has been no exception with a bunch of family names ditching the PGA Tour for LIV Golf, led by American Phil Mikelson. Amongst the highest stars to modify excursions for a bumper payday are Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Bryson DeChambeau.
The two pre-existing excursions had strongly disapproved of the creation of LIV Golf, resulting in tense in-fighting and litigation battles, however Tuesday’s bombshell settlement now signifies that Saudi Arabia’s Yasir Al-Rumayyan has a component of management over golf as a complete.
Such a scenario is unpalatable for the victims of the 9/11 terrorist assaults by al-Qaeda in New York, the place 2,996 folks have been killed when two planes have been flown into the town’s World Trade Centres. Relatives of the victims consider that Saudi officers had advance data of the assaults, which included 15 Saudi nationals, however didn’t attempt to forestall the assaults.
An announcement issued by 9/11 Families United stated: “Saudi operatives played a role in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and now it is bankrolling all of professional golf.” Terry Strada, the group’s chair whose husband Tom died within the catastrophe, branded the PGA Tour’s Commissioner Jay Monaghan a hypocrite.
Strada stated: “Mr Monahan talked last summer about knowing people who lost loved ones on 9/11, then wondered aloud on national television whether LIV golfers ever had to apologise for being a member of the PGA Tour. They do now – as does he. PGA Tour leaders should be ashamed of their hypocrisy and greed.
“Our entire community has been betrayed by Commissioner Monaghan and the PGA as it appears their concern for our loved ones was merely window dressing in their quest for money – it was never to honour the great game of golf.”
Facing reporters within the wake of the announcement, Monaghan stated: “I recognise that people are going to call me a hypocrite. Any time I’ve said anything I’ve said it with the information I had at that moment, and I said it based on someone that’s trying to compete for the PGA Tour and our players.
“I accept those criticisms but circumstances do change and I think looking at the big picture got us to this point.”