“The Saudis do not care about golf”: Phil Mickelson replies to open letter plea by 9/11 widow against LIV Golf Series
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The recent Saudi backed LIV Golf Series has cause quite the controversy in the golf world. The tension between the golfers who made the switch and those who did not is quite extreme. With the PGA Tour unhappy with the defectors, they had threatened disciplinary action against them, including the like of Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Ian Poulter.
They held out on the threat, and suspended 17 of the golfer for switching from the PGA Tour to the LIV Golf Series. The LIV Series headed up by Greg Norman and bankrolled by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF)— Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He allegedly ordered the killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 and the country holds mass executions, persecutes lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, and oppresses women.
Recently, Mickelson, Johnson and others were written an open letter by Terry Strada, who lost her husband in the 9/11 attack. “They care about using professional golf to whitewash their reputation, and they are paying you to help them do it,” she mentioned in the letter.
Also read: “The cloud hanging over golf” – Rory McIlroy disappointed that US Open overshadowed by LIV Golf
Phil Mickelson repsonds to open letter after accusations
“When you partner with the Saudis, you become complicit with their whitewash, and help give them the reputational cover they so desperately crave — and are willing to pay handsomely to manufacture. The Saudis do not care about the deep-rooted sportsmanship of golf or its origins as a gentleman’s game built upon core values of mutual respect and personal integrity,” said Strada in her letter according to thesun.com.
Phil Mickelson decided to respond to the letter, empathising with everyone who lost their loved ones in the 9/11 attack. “I would say to the Strada family, I would say to everyone that has lost loved ones, lost friends on 9/11, that I have deep deep empathy and sympathy for them. I can’t emphasise that enough, and I think I speak for all Americans in that regard,” responded Mickelson. The recent LIV Series and the golfers have facing quite the backlash for their play in the controversial Saudi backed LIV Series.
Also read: “All I can do is plead my case” – Bryson DeChambeau on decision to join LIV Golf Invitational
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Saivee Phatak
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