Patrick Reed is the latest Masters Tournament champion to turn to the LIV circuit, funded by Saudi interests, and activists have expressed their disapproval of the players ’decision to advance these countries’ sporting ambitions. in the Middle Eastern.
Reed on Saturday became the 19th golfer to make the selection, announced in the final round of the circuit’s inaugural tournament at the Centurion Club in suburban London. Pat Perez followed him a few hours later, to be the 20th to leave the PGA Tour.
South African Charl Schwartzel also took home the awards at this tournament, which allowed him to pocket a prize of approximately 6 million Canadian dollars.
Schwartzel held his one-shot lead to capture the win and in the process secured his share of approximately C $ 960,000 from the C $ 3.8 million purse awarded to the winning team quartet. Stinger.
I never thought I could play golf for so much moneymentioned Schwartzel, who has not won a tournament in the PGA or the European Tour since 2016.
His compatriot Hennie Du Plessis, selected by Stinger captain Louis Oosthuizen in the repechage, earned C $ 3.6 million for his 2nd place finish.
These large amounts were not enough to convince the top 10 players in the world to join the LIV circuit, however.
Reed, who earned nearly C $ 47 million over a decade on the PGA Tour, is ranked 36th in the world. The American won his only major title at the Masters Tournament in 2018.
Reed said he will begin his Saudi-funded tour trip with a second scheduled stopover in Portland, Ore., From June 30 to July 2.
Perez, 46, is ranked 168th in the world. He said he wants to reduce his travels after 21 years on the PGA Tour. He did not discuss the financial details of his deal with Circuit LIV while on the air.
The ghost of September 11 is hanging on the LIV circuit
Saudi Arabia’s poor human rights record has angered many groups, including Amnesty International, who have blamed the country for restore its image through sport, by associating with star athletes.
For many Americans, Saudi Arabia has always been associated with the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in New York and the 3,000 deaths that resulted from it on September 11, 2001. Four of the 11 hijackers involved in this tragedy were citizens of Saudi, and Saudi. Arabia is the birthplace of Osama bin Laden, the architect of the attack and the top leader of al-Qaeda.
Terry Strada, president of the Association of Relatives of 9/11 Victims, sent a letter to representatives of golfers who joined the LIV Tour to reconsider their decision to leave the PGA Tour. Her husband Tom died when his plane crashed at the World Trade Center.
Given Saudi Arabia’s role in the deaths of our loved ones and those injured in 9/11-your fellow Americans-we are outraged that you are ready to help the Saudis regain their dignity.written by Ms. Strada, accusing the golfers of betraying American interests.
Ms. Strada’s letter was passed on to Reed’s agents Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Kevin Na.
When you partner with the Saudis, you become an accomplice in their bleaching and help give them the reputational cover they need, Ms Strada wrote. The Saudis don’t care about golf’s deep sportsmanship or its origins as a game based on values of mutual respect and personal integrity. They value using professional golf to tarnish their reputation and they pay players to help them do so.
The families of the victims are trying to hold Saudi Arabia accountable in New York, despite its government’s insistence that any allegations of complicity in the terrorist attacks are definitely wrong.
Associated Press
Source: Radio-Canada
