Families Of 9/11 Victims Blast PGA’s Merger With Saudi-Backed LIV Golf: “Hypocrisy And Greed”

The 9/11 Families United coalition has unleashed their fury on the recent merger between the US PGA Tour and Saudi-backed LIV Golf. In a scathing statement, the organization, comprising survivors and families of the 9/11 victims, expressed deep offense and condemned the “hypocrisy and greed” of PGA Tour leaders.

“Saudi operatives played a role in the 9/11 terrorist attacks and now it is bankrolling all of professional golf,” the organization said.

Unforgivingly, they reminded the world that Saudi operatives were involved in the devastating 9/11 terrorist attacks and now, astonishingly, the same kingdom is funding professional golf. Terry Strada, chair of 9/11 Families United, whose husband tragically perished in the attack on the World Trade Center, directly accused PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan of betraying the 9/11 community.

“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,” Strada said. “They do now — as does he… PGA Tour leaders should be ashamed of their hypocrisy and greed.”

In a surprising move on Tuesday, the PGA Tour and LIV Golf made an announcement that they would merge into a new entity, accompanied by a fresh name. The press release revealed that the Saudi government’s sovereign wealth fund would hold the “exclusive” right to make additional investments in the new entity.

It also stated that the Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund would have the authority to reject any capital injected into the new entity, including funds directed towards the PGA Tour. This announcement brought an end to a long and acrimonious rivalry between the two organizations, which began when LIV Golf was established with support from Saudi Arabia, enticing golfers with lucrative contracts.

The contentious battle between the entities played out in U.S. federal court, with LIV accusing the PGA of violating federal antitrust laws by trying to prevent golfers from switching tours, while the PGA alleged that LIV had induced players to unlawfully terminate their contracts with the PGA.

The endeavor has faced intense backlash, even from some of the prominent players associated with LIV. Phil Mickelson, who transitioned to LIV following a successful career in the PGA, expressed strong criticism of the Saudi government’s human rights record during an interview for an upcoming book. He referred to them as “scary motherf**kers.” Mickelson later clarified that he had made those comments off the record to the author, who subsequently published them online before the book’s release.

Mickelson was among a group of elite players enticed by lucrative paydays that reached hundreds of millions. Tiger Woods reportedly declined a staggering $1 billion offer to join LIV.

While players like Woods and Rory McIlroy remained loyal to the PGA, several major tournament champions, including Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed, and Dustin Johnson, made the switch to LIV. Consequently, they were permanently banned from participating in PGA events, although they were granted permission to compete in major tournaments, which are typically organized separately from the regular tour.

The 9/11 Families United, long-standing critics of LIV Golf, have actively attended LIV Golf events in the US, asserting that Saudi Arabia must face the consequences for its involvement in the tragic attacks that claimed the lives of thousands. Around 15 of the 19 hijackers responsible for the attacks were Saudi citizens.

“PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan co-opted the 9/11 community last year in the PGA’s unequivocal agreement that the Saudi LIV project was nothing more than sportswashing of Saudi Arabia’s reputation,” Strada added.

She also claims that the PGA and Monahan have now “appear to have become just more paid Saudi shills, taking billions of dollars to cleanse the Saudi reputation so that Americans and the world will forget how the Kingdom spent their billions of dollars before 9/11 to fund terrorism, spread their vitriolic hatred of Americans, and finance al Qaeda and the murder of our loved ones.”

The outrage sparked by this unholy alliance between the PGA Tour and Saudi money is palpable, as the brave families of 9/11 victims refuse to let their loved ones’ memories be exploited for profit.


Information for this briefing was found via Fox Sports, Forbes, Deadline, and the sources mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.

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