“LIV players might miss legitimate competition” – Eamon Lynch points out the potential dangers of a Saudi connection for LIV Golf
Follow Us
LIV Golf [Pic Credits: LIV Golf]
The LIV Golf circuit has been one of the centres of antagonism for the golf community. The new golf tour is considered a ‘rebel circuit’, and PGA players who moved to the new circuit as ‘evicted’.
The new circuit might have signed big names like Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson. However, its current financial aims and goals seem to be not met. Right from its first season in 2022, LIV had determined to get more high-profile names within its portfolio. Sadly, that attempt went futile because legends such as Tiger Woods and Rory Mcllroy outright refused to join LIV.
It further went down for LIV when other prominent personalities in golf started dissociating their links with LIV for fear of the PGA’s condemnation. PGA has currently sanctioned all former PGA players who are now in LIV from competing in its related events. As Eamon Lynch further points out, LIV’s apparent Saudi connection can threaten their player’s global acceptance.
LIV Golf’s Saudi connection can prove fatal for the players
LIV Golf is heavily funded by the Saudi Arabian government’s Public Investment Fund. During the antitrust case filed in US Federal Court against PGA by LIV, PGA’s countersue case brought in significant facts about the Saudi impact on LIV Golf.
According to the attorney of the PGA, the Saudi funds that the government invests in are heavily influenced by the commands of Yasir Al-Rumayyan. Al-Rumayyan is the governor of the office of the Public Investment Fund and is said to pull the reins on LIV’s governance. This would mean that there was no role of Greg Norman in executive decision making and everything was a result of Saudi Arabia’s calls.
The Saudi state, however, has vehemently denied all such claims. The Fund office also claims ‘sovereign immunity’ as an organ of the Saudi state. Furthermore, Al-Rumayyan has also filed an affidavit claiming that disclosing any information shall be punishable by 20 years of imprisonment in his state.
Interestingly, ‘commercial activity’ does not come under the ambit of sovereign immunity. This puts the Saudi backed- LIV Golf in a further legal quagmire with the court’s authority entirely within its jurisdiction. On this, Eamon Lynch writes, “The concept of “buyer’s remorse” is often tossed around in reference to LIV players who might miss legitimate competition or regret the reputational damage that came with signing. It might now be more appropriate in relation to LIV’s financiers, who find themselves in a legal quagmire of their own making.“
This schism in golf is causing enough uproar and discussion within the community, leaving fans and players taking different sides.
In case you missed it:
“PGA is all white-guy bullsh**,” Andrew Santino and Joe Rogan come in strong support of LIV Golf
Adam Scott gives LIV defectors harsh REALITY CHECK amid controversies over OWGR points
Stay Updated!
/techfirstnow/media/agency_attachments/kATjCXskQdJKkXN0OuqW.png)