A senior US Senator has opened an investigating into the recent merger of the PGA Tour and Saudi-backed LIV Golf, requesting the organizations mitt over documents outlining their abrupt conclusion to conjoin forces.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Constitution State Democrat who chairs the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, outlined his quest this week inwards split letters to PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan and LIV CEO Greg Norman.
Blumenthal cites concerns that the agreement is an travail past the Saudi Arabian authorities to lock inward “sportswashing” to underwrite upward its book of human rights abuses and links to bankrolling the September 11 brat attacks. He also questions whether allowing the PGA Tour to defend its tax-exempt position would unsuitably do good the Saudi Arabian government.
LIV was naturalized inward 2021 past the Saudi Arab Public Investment Fund, the nation’s crowned head wealthiness fund, and it enjoyed a for the most part bitter relationship with the PGA. LIV lured off top PGA Tour golfers with nine-figure paydays, and the PGA Tour responded by barring golfers who appeared at LIV events from competing on the tour.
Turnabout Raises Questions
The sudden about-face from Monahan and other PGA Tour officials stunned many observers, and at present Blumenthal hopes to assign the weight of his subcommittee slow efforts to receive answers.
PGA Tour’s understanding with PIF regarding LIV Golf raises concerns most the Saudi Arabian government’s role inward influencing this travail and the risks posed past a strange authorities entity assuming verify over a wanted American institution,” Blumenthal wrote.
Blumenthal requested that LIV and the PGA Tour save an raiment of documents to his subcommittee past June 26. His sweeping request covered all documents and communications among senior officials at the PGA Tour and LIV, and Blumenthal specifically sought details on efforts to keep the PGA Tour’s untaxed status, among other particulars.
In a statement to various media outlets this week, the PGA Tour said it’s “confident that at one time U.S. Congress learns more almost how the PGA Tour will verify this unexampled venture, they will interpret the opportunities this testament create for our players, our communities and our sport, all piece protecting an American golf game institution.”
Subpoenas May Be Next
If the organizations don’t abide by with the document request, Blumenthal suggested he may get to play hardball.
“I get no more intellect to trust that they won’t cooperate flop now,” Blumenthal told Slate this week. “But i would looking at real harshly on their refusing to get these documents and other evidence available. And we make the power to subpoena; i view no more understanding why we wouldn’t habituate it if they just stonewall us.”
Blumenthal said his end is to receive more info on what went into the secretive and surprising sell betwixt the PGA Tour and LIV.
“Right now, we want to know the facts,” he told Slate. “We need to live how this trade developed, who said what to whom, what promises were made, what the emails were. Because I conceive in that respect are a lot of people who are totally mystified and perplexed, as swell as outraged, past this make out change of mind past Jay Monahan and the PGA.”
State gaming regulators inward the 30 states where sports betting is sound hold largely resisted allowing wagers on LIV Golf events, often citing contention o'er the league’s Saudi Arabian backing. The merger may increase wagering on golf game going forward.
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