Many top golfers tee off for the new LIV Golf series. The criticism of human rights violations by financiers Saudi Arabia does not seem to bother them much.
Brooks Koepka was annoyed. Unmissable. He pulled his sponsor’s white cap up and down again and again, his facial features betrayed without a doubt that he was tired of this press conference. But he had to answer the same question over and over again.
“I’m here to play golf, develop the sport and put on a show‘ the American replied. Sometimes exactly in these words and again and again in similar variations.
Koepka has been one of the world’s best golfers in recent years and has won four major tournaments. His switch to the new LIV Golf series caused quite a stir. Before his start on Thursday at the LIV tournament in Portland, USA, the world number 19 presented himself. the questions of the media.
Koepka avoids questions about human rights violations
And they wanted to know one thing above all: Why did Koepka decide to leave the PGA Tour? Why is he competing in a tournament series funded by Saudi Arabian money? Knowing full well that those in power in Saudi Arabia are responsible for numerous human rights violations, including the murder of dissident Jamal Khashoggi.
Koepka avoided the sensitive questions for him. Not a word about human rights violations. “We are here to play golf‘ said Koepka, looking left and right. There sat his colleagues Pat Perez and Patrick Reed, who also switched to LIV-Golf. Both nodded encouragingly to Koepka.
More and more top golfers for LIV-Golf at the start
The list of top international golfers who have joined the new tournament format is getting longer and longer. The field in Portland includes nine of the past 21 Major winners. There are also four former world number ones, and around half of the participants are currently in the top 100 in the world rankings. Germany’s best golfer Martin Kaymer is also at the start.
They are lured by big money. The participants are promised significantly higher prize money, for the top-placed in the millions. The tournaments are shorter, there is no such thing as early elimination, as with the cut on the PGA Tour.
LIV-Golf: Flawless sports washing
However, it is obvious that Saudi Arabia wants to use the glossy events to improve its own image and tries to distract attention from the human rights violations. “sports washing‘ in the classic sense.
They reacted on the PGA Tour in America and also on the European DP World Tour. The cooperation is to be intensified and the prize money increased. Players teeing off for LIV Golf face fines and disqualification from many tournaments. And they could even be denied participation in the prestigious Ryder Cup, it was recently heard.
PGA Tour worries about their status
Of course, those responsible for the PGA Tour are concerned with the money. Their concern is that their own product could become less attractive due to the mass exodus of players. So far, the very best players in the world have remained loyal to the top dog. But that could change.
Because the criticism of the migrated professionals is unmistakable. The players’ accusation: The PGA Tour demands too much from its players, doesn’t listen enough to the wishes of the pros and doesn’t give them enough freedom: “The Tour always says they work for the players. But they don’t listen to us. It’s the other way around. We work for yousaid Pat Perez.
Koepka’s thorny statement about the value of money
That’s why many are now teeing off for LIV Golf. Despite all concerns and criticism. Brooks Koepka rejoices”more time at home“. But whether he will really spend more time there seems questionable. In recent years, he has completed an average of around 18 tournaments a year, almost exclusively in the USA. At LIV Golf, the 32-year-old has committed to playing 15 tournaments a year. Distributed in places all over the world.
Koepka once said about two years ago: “I don’t care about the money. I want to play against the best. If someone gave me $200 million tomorrow, my life wouldn’t change.” A statement that many hold against him today. Because the money doesn’t seem to be that unimportant to him and Koepka no longer plays against the best. At least not for now.