9/11 victims and families slam PGA Tour over Saudi meeting as two sides discuss LIV Golf merger
The PGA Tour is believed to have met with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund in New York on the days surrounding the 23rd anniversary of the September 11 attacks
Families of victims who tragically lost their lives in the September 11 terror attacks have hit back at the PGA Tour for arranging meetings with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) around the sombre anniversary.
It's understood that officials from the PGA Tour and representatives from Saudi Arabia's PIF - the financial backers of LIV Golf - gathered in New York on Tuesday. The timing of these golf meetings, expected to span several days and occurring on the eve of the 23rd anniversary of the most catastrophic terrorist attacks on American soil, sparked outrage from 9/11 Justice president Brett Eagleson, who labelled the discussions as "completely tone deaf."
In an interview with CNN on Wednesday, Eagleson - whose father John was a casualty of the 9/11 attacks - stated: "At one point in time, the PGA Tour were brothers in arms with us. They were standing lockstep, fighting the battle about Saudi Arabia doing 9/11.
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"About all these other atrocities, women’s rights, human rights. All these different issues that Saudi Arabia is infamous for, the PGA was standing side-by-side with us. And then all it took was a couple billion dollars and they caved like a cheap suit.
"Of all days, they pick this day. The day we mourn the death of 3,000 Americans, to be blocks away. As we speak right now, they’re likely locked in arms smoking cigars while our family members burned alive 10 blocks away.
"What happened to (PGA Tour commissioner Jay) Monahan? He said he was going to meet with us, he said he owed us an apology. We haven’t heard words from him. He sent Jimmy Dunne in front of a senate committee panel and made him take arrows.
"Monahan just stepped away... So you know what, the PGA, shame on you - you should be advocating that we have closure first, and then let’s talk about your golf deal next."
Detailing more on the issue, an official statement from Eagleson on Tuesday brought to light the alleged role of the Saudi Arabian government in the September 11 atrocities. A CBS News report from June showcased a video where Omar al-Bayoumi, alleged to be a Saudi intelligence agent, is seen discussing a "plan" and targeting the US Capitol building.
It was highlighted that 15 out of the 19 hijackers who led the assault were Saudi citizens. Regardless, the Saudi Arabian government robustly refutes any claims of their participation in the terror events.
“As has been confirmed in the last few weeks by CBS News reporting, the Saudi Arabian government played a role in the horrific attacks of 9/11,” Eagleson said. “It is disgusting, unacceptable, and incredibly painful that the Tour and (Tiger) Woods would do this - especially now.”
Subsequent coverage unearthed that despite initial claims which put Tiger Woods and Adam Scott at the heart of recent talks with Saudi Arabia's PIF as part of PGA Tour's deal broker team, Sports Illustrated clarified that Woods did not show face at the meeting.
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