LIV Golf plans to carry 3 occasions at Trump-owned properties
LIV Golf, the fledgling skilled golf tour backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, plans to play three tournaments this 12 months at golf golf equipment owned by the Trump Organization.
LIV Golf stated Monday it’s going to host tournaments on the Trump National Golf Club in Washington, D.C.; Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, in Bedminster, New Jersey; and the Trump National Doral in Miami, Florida.
The schedule extra straight hyperlinks President Donald Trump, who’s operating to retake the White House in 2024, to a monarchy criticized for human-rights abuses. A U.S. intelligence report concluded in 2021 that Saudi Arabia’s prime official, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, accepted the homicide of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
LIV Golf held event at two Trump-owned golf golf equipment final 12 months, drawing protests. The group 9/11 Justice, which incorporates relations of individuals killed within the September 11 terrorist assaults, final 12 months requested the previous president to rethink internet hosting the Saudi-funded league in Bedminster, New Jersey.
In a letter, the group stated the choice introduced them “deep ache and anger” given Saudi Arabia’s function within the 2001 assaults. Members of 9/11 Justice additionally protested exterior the LIV event performed on the Doral course in Florida final October.
Trump has defended internet hosting the LIV Golf tournaments, telling the USA Prime Time in October that Saudi officers are “good individuals with limitless cash” and that the U.S. has “human rights points right here as a lot as anyone.”
A Trump Organization spokesperson didn’t reply questions relating to any moral implications round internet hosting tournaments held by LIV Golf or how a lot the corporate is being paid.
In a press release, Eric Trump, one in all Trump’s sons and govt vice chairman of the Trump Organization, stated the group is “honored to be internet hosting three LIV Golf occasions at our properties,” including, “What LIV Golf achieved of their first season was really exceptional, and we’re excited to lift the bar even greater collectively in 2023.”
LIV launched final 12 months as an various to the PGA and has attracted a few of golf’s prime stars, together with Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau. The PGA final 12 months suspended a number of outstanding gamers from taking part in its occasions.
The CW Network, which is partially owned by CBS mum or dad firm Paramount Global, in January stated it’s going to air 14 occasions from LIV Golf below a new broadcast partnership deal.
LIV’s 2023 schedule consists of 14 stops throughout 4 continents. The tour begins Feb. 24 at El Camaleón golf membership in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and concludes on Nov. 5 on the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in Saudi Arabia.