The controversial effort of Saudi Arabia to pave the way for professional golf created a new flash point for sports on Wednesday. Next year’s Ryder Cup European team has announced that they will resign from captain Henrik Stenson of Sweden shortly before the expected transfer. A new LIV Golf series funded by Saudi Arabia.
Stenson, whose partnership with LIV Golf was announced Wednesday afternoon, has been fascinated by the richness of the series that has overturned the once polite world of professional golf since its first event earlier this summer. Became a player of.
The LIV series has created an ugly rift in the world of golf by guaranteeing players more money than can be earned in the largest tours and tournaments that make up a traditional golf calendar. The battle split golf into two camps: a group of traditionalists, including some of the sports giants, including champions like Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, and a group, including Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, and Bryson DeChambeau. A growing rebel, Stenson, who now won his only major championship at the 2016 British Open.
“In light of the decisions Henrik made regarding his personal situation, it is clear that he will not be able to fulfill his promised contractual obligations to Ryder Cup Europe before being announced as captain on Tuesday, March 15. 2022, so it is impossible for him to continue his role as captain, “said the European Ryder Cup team. statement.. The announcement did not specifically mention Stenson’s expected asylum in LIV.
The Ryder Cup is a very popular event where American teams play against European teams and will be held next September at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome. European officials said Stenson’s expulsion would take place “immediately” and soon a new captain would be appointed.
LIV Golf Series Quick Guide
New series. The launch of the new Saudi-funded LIV Golf series re-emerges long-standing questions about athletes’ moral obligations and their desire to compete and make money. Here’s what you need to know:
Stenson disagreed with his dismissal, stating in a statement announcing his participation in LIV that he had arranged the series to continue as Ryder Cup captain.
“Needless to say, I have it at hand to support Ryder Cup Europe as much as possible and I am very much hoping that the opportunity to somehow represent Team Europe will come back to my path at some point in the future. ” He wrote..
The LIV Golf series has begun to ignite the entire spectrum of golf. Players participating in LIV events are not allowed on the main tours of the United States and Europe. The controversy triggered a court battle in the United States, where the Justice Department announced earlier this month that it was investigating the PGA Tour for anti-competitive behavior in dealing with emerging competition.
The event sparked in golf to overturn the traditions and limitations of how to play the game — LIV tournaments have no cuts, guaranteed prizes of millions of dollars, and 54 holes instead of the usual 72 holes. Played — The series will also be a lightning rod for human rights activists who accuse Saudi Arabia of using sports to undermine its reputation.
Relatives of those killed earlier this week sent a letter to former President Donald J. Trump to cancel an event scheduled for later this month at the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey. I urged you. This event is one of two sets that take place on a Trump-owned course. The finale of the LIV Golf Series in October is scheduled for Trump National Doral in Florida.
“I can’t figure out how to agree to receive money from the Saudi Arabian Golf League to host a tournament on a golf course and to do so behind Ground Zero in New Jersey. The family is in a letter. So even Trump said he had blamed Saudi Arabia for the 9/11 attack in the past.
“We don’t understand that the former president of the United States puts our loved ones aside for personal financial gain,” continued the letter to Trump. “We would appreciate it if you could reconsider your business relationship with the Saudi Arabian Golf League and agree to meet us.”
Brett Eagleson, president of the group that sent the letter, 9/11 Justice, said he did not receive a reply on Sunday.
However, Mr. Trump took part in the LIV Golf feud on his social media site, Truth Social, on Tuesday. In a short post, he criticized the PGA Tour and told players to “make money now.”
“Golfers who remain” loyal “to the highly dishonest PGA will pay a great price in various ways for the inevitable merger with the LIV,” Trump wrote. He said the merger of LIV Golf and the PGA Tour was “unavoidable.”
“If you don’t take the money now, you won’t get anything after the merger, just how smart the original signer was,” Trump wrote.
The LIV circuit, backed by the Saudi Arabia sovereign wealth fund, has billions of dollars at its disposal. It has already used its wealth to steal the star’s name for a spectacular sign-on fee.Six-time winner Mickelson reportedly received $ 200 million to join, and DeChambeau Recently proposed In a podcast that his deal with the series is worth over $ 125 million. The series is led by Greg Norman of Australia, who has become a Paria figure in a golf facility due to his central role in attracting talent. He was, for example, locked out of this year’s British Open edition, even though he was a past winner of the tournament.
