The PGA Tour ought to be “ashamed of their hypocrisy and greed”, says a bunch representing victims’ households and survivors of the 9/11 assaults.
The PGA and DP World Tour have agreed a merger with Saudi Arabia-backed breakaway circuit LIV Golf.
PGA commissioner Jay Monahan beforehand referenced 9/11 when criticising gamers for leaving his tour for LIV.
“Our entire community has been betrayed,” stated Terry Strada – chair of 9/11 Families United.
The 9/11 terror assaults on the United States in 2001 killed nearly 3,000 individuals. According to an FBI declassified doc, 15 of the 19 aircraft hijackers within the assault had been Saudi nationals.
Strada, whose husband Tom was amongst these killed, stated in an announcement the group she chairs was “shocked and deeply offended” by the merger with a “league that is bankrolled by billions of sportswashing money from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”.
“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,” she added.
Speaking to the BBC, DP World Tour chief government Keith Pelley stated: “This has never been about sportswashing.”
The PGA and LIV have agreed to mix their industrial operations and rights into a brand new, yet-to-be named for-profit firm.
Monahan will probably be its chief government, with Yasir Al-Rumayyan – governor of the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF), which backs LIV – as chairman.
The inaugural LIV season began final June, when Monahan stated: “I have two families that are close to me that lost loved ones, and so my heart goes out to them.
“And I might ask any participant that has left or any participant that may ever think about leaving, have you ever ever needed to apologise for being a member of the PGA Tour?”
Trump hails ‘lovely and glamorous deal’
Phil Mickelson was one of the first players to switch from the PGA to LIV, and Strada wrote to the six-time major winner and other big names who had accepted lucrative deals from LIV.
Speaking before the US Open last June about those who lost loved ones in 9/11, Mickelson stated: “I’ve the deepest of sympathy and empathy for them.”
He added: “I might say to the Strada household, I might say to everybody that has misplaced family members, misplaced associates on 9/11 that I’ve deep, deep empathy for them. I can not emphasise that sufficient.”
The 52-year-old American responded to news of the merger on Tuesday by tweeting: “Awesome day.”
Courses owned by Donald Trump have hosted LIV events this season and last, including its most recent event in Sterling, Virginia.
On Tuesday, the previous US president stated: “Great information from LIV Golf. An enormous, lovely and glamorous deal for the fantastic world of golf. Congrats to all.”
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
