The first LIV Golf event in the United States was set to begin Thursday, with a group of survivors and families who lost loved ones in the September 11 terror attacks planning to gather at a nearby park to protest the Saudi-funded tour.
Brett Eagleson was 15 years old when his father died in the World Trade Center collapse. On that fateful day in 2001, nearly 3,000 people were killed.
We want the golfers to know whom they’re sleeping with and doing business with,” Eagleson said. Any golfer who chooses to play in the LIV tournament should have to listen to the family members, look us in the eyes, and explain why they’re taking Saudi money and playing in this tournament.” And we want to be able to educate the golfers about the Saudi role in 9/11.
Eagleson, now 36, is one of those who have criticized the LIV tournament and its association with a regime that has violated human rights. On September 11, all but four of the 19 hijackers were Saudi citizens, and the Saudi kingdom was the birthplace of Osama bin Laden, the head of al-Qaida and mastermind of the attack.
The LIV Golf Invitational gets underway Thursday at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, which is about 20 miles west of downtown Portland. However, long before the event arrived in North Plains, the mayor and mayors from surrounding cities wrote to the club’s Texas-based owner to protest the event, claiming it did not align with the community’s values.
Senator Ron Wyden of the United States called the event “sports washing” to divert attention away from human rights violations. But the rage has hit even closer to home since the 2016 hit-and-run death of 15-year-old Fallon Smart.
Abdulrahman Sameer Noorah, a Saudi student, was facing first-degree murder charges when he removed a tracking device and vanished. Authorities in the United States believe the Saudi government assisted in the creation of a fake passport and provided a private jet for travel back to Saudi Arabia. The story was covered by 60 Minutes.
“It’s wrong to be silent in the fight for Oregonians to get justice – Fallon Smart was killed very close to our house in southeast Portland, and the person charged with the crime, a hit-and-run death, was whisked out of the country by the Saudis before he stood for trial,” Wyden said in an interview with the Associated Press.
Furthermore, North Plains Mayor Teri Lenahan and ten other mayors from surrounding cities signed a letter condemning the competition.
“We oppose this event because it is sponsored by a repressive government whose human rights violations are documented,” the statement said. “By allowing the Saudi-backed organization to play in our backyard, we are complicit in these abuses.”
The LIV Golf event in Portland is the second of eight this year. Families of September 11th victims and survivors have also spoken out against the inaugural event outside London earlier this month.
Along with Phil Mickelson, other major champions Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, and Bryson DeChambeau have joined the tour. Mickelson did not speak to the media before the Oregon tournament.
Koepka, who recently joined LIV Golf after initially opposing it, downplayed the Saudi funding concerns.
“They are free to express themselves. We’ve heard it before. I believe everyone has. It’s been brought up,” said Koepka, a four-time major champion and former world number one. “But, as we said, our only job is to go play golf, and that’s exactly what we’re attempting to do.” We’re attempting to expand the game.”
The money is part of LIV Golf’s allure. Aside from signing bonuses, the 48-man field will compete for a $20 million purse, with a $5 million prize fund for a team competition. Charl Schwartzel won the London event (and the team portion) for $4.75 million.
LIV tournaments are 54-hole affairs with no cut, and even the last-place finisher receives $120,000. Organizers promise exciting events that will bring in new followers.
The PGA Tour has responded to LIV Golf’s challenge by suspending all active members who participated in the inaugural LIV event. Those who perform in Oregon will also be suspended unless they resign from the tour.
The PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic is taking place this week in Illinois.
