All you need to understand about LIV is right here, from Trump, Barkley, and the PGA and the controversy engulfing the golf series explained
The newly formed LIV Golf Tour is the very first and only competitor to the PGA Tour, which has become the exclusive golf tour since 1929. While LIV Golf is brimming with Saudi cash, some believe it to be ethically bankrupt.
LIV Golf League 2022 Controversy As Golfers Opt Fot Saudi Arabia Money Despite 9/11
No sympathy for Henrik Stenson as he is removed as Europe's Ryder Cup captain just before he joins LIV Golf series.
If I ran world golf, I would impose lifetime bans on all those who have joined the LIV series from participating in any of the four golf majors or any tour event. pic.twitter.com/3bw1GcrO2x
— Dan Redford (@danredford70) July 22, 2022
The daughter of a firefighter who died in 9/11 denounced Donald Trump for hosting a tournament for the Saudi-backed LIV Golf series at his golf courses: ‘This is Blood Money That You’re Taking’@Martina @NormOrnstein @TrueFactsStated pic.twitter.com/Fc9vhIiiCq
— Colossus Diplomacy (@ColossusDiplo) July 24, 2022
Several well-known personalities, namely Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, and others, have left the PGA Tour to attend the Saudi-backed golf circuit, causing a stir in the golf world. Cameron Smith, who just won the world championship at St. Andrews, may also join the golf startup.
What Is LIV Golf Controversy? Trump’s Relationship With LIV; Barkley’s Likely Departure
LIV Golf is attracting an increasing number of Americans:
LIV Golf has not only attracted former PGA Tour golfers, but they have also acquired and continue to obtain relationships with public personalities and major names in and out of the golf game. David Feherty, one of golf’s most prominent media figures, has left NBC Sports to join the LIV Golf reporting crew. While TNT basketball expert Charles Barkley is apparently exploring the move.
Previously, former US President Donald Trump openly promoted the proposed league, urging PGA players to “steal the money now.”
But why is LIV Golf drawing so many people and Americans? We can’t help but wonder why these famous individuals, great golfers, or even past presidents, are eager in joining a Saudi-financed league that, dare we say, undermines the importance of human rights.
Why is LIV Golf so divisive?
The Saudi Arabian government’s Public Investment Fund is supporting and funding LIV Golf. The Saudi administration has been repeatedly chastised for its treatment of human rights throughout the years. Culminating in the killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. The government of Saudi Arabia has also been connected to the 9/11 attacks, though not explicitly. Nonetheless, 15 of the 19 individuals who hijacked airliners that day were Saudi citizens.
Why do PGA Tour players visit LIV Golf?
The crucial word here is money. For the individual race, LIV Golf provides a $20 million purse, with the winner getting $4 million and the last rank finisher receiving $120,000. Some see the Saudi money as “blood money,” blaming the authorities for “sports washing” its image by supporting the league. Irrespective of where the funding comes from, LIV pays its players substantially more than the PGA. In 2021, the typical PGA Tour player received a little under $1.5 million.
Why does Saudi Arabia support the LIV Golf League?
Ben Hubbard has published a book on Saudi Arabia’s prince, Mohammed bin Salman, and his kingdom’s motivating factors. Saudi Arabia’s support for the new sequence is one of the aspects the oil-rich royal families try to manipulate how they have been perceived by people in The western world and improve their countries’ international presence.
Spending on golf, on the other hand, appears to be Saudi Arabia’s attempt to target a richer population of an older and more experienced sport/market, precisely what Donald is really all about.
Trump’s reasoning for supporting LIV Golf:
The ex-US president is indeed involved with golf and controls 17 golf courses throughout the globe, but he does have a close connection with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In fact, two LIV Golf Series tournaments will be held on Trump-owned courses: the first in late July at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J., and the season-ending squad tournament in October at Trump National in Doral, Miami.
Names of PGA players who attended LIV golf:
In terms of the Official World Golf Ranking, this is the complete list of ex-PGA Tour players that have joined LIV Golf:
- Dustin Johnson (USA)
- Brooks Koepka (USA)
- Abraham Ancer (ESP)
- Louis Oosthuizen (RSA)
- Bryson DeChambeau (USA)
- Kevin Na (USA)
- Talor Gooch (USA)
- Patrick Reed (USA)
- Sergio Garcia (ESP)
- Richard Bland (ENG)
- Shaun Norris (RSA)
- Matt Jones (AUS)
- Matthew Wolff (USA)
- Pablo Larrazabal (ESP)
- Phil Mickelson (USA)
- Sam Horsfield (ENG)
- Lee Westwood (ENG)
- Ryosuke Kinoshita (JPN)
- Scott Vincent (ZIM)
- Ian Poulter (ENG)
- Bernd Wiesberger (AUT)
- Hudson Swafford (USA)
- Oliver Bekker (RSA)
- Junichiro Kozuma (JPN)
- Justin Harding (RSA)
- Carlos Ortiz (ESP)
- Sadom Kaewkanjana (THA)
- Laurie Canter (ENG)
- Branden Grace (RSA)
- Charl Schwartzel (RSA)
- Hennie Du Plessis (RSA)
- Phachara Khongwatmai (THA)
- Sihwan Kim (USA)
- JC Ritchie (RSA)
- Adrian Otaegui (ESP)
- Hideto Tanihara (JPN)
- Martin Kaymer (GER)
- Jediah Morgan (AUS)
- Blake Windred (AUS)
- Wade Ormsby (AUS)
- Ratchanaon “TK” Chantananuwat* (THA)
- Peter Uihlein (USA)
- Ian Snyman (RSA)
- Graeme McDowell (NIR)
- Travis Smyth (AUS)
- Viraj Madappa (IND)
- Itthipat Buranatanyarat (THA)
- Turk Pettit (USA)
- Oliver Fisher (ENG)
- Chase Koepka (USA)
- Andy Ogletree (USA)
- James Piot* (USA)
- David Puig* (ESP)
- Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra (ESP)
- Kevin Yuan (AUS)
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