United States Senator Richard Blumenthal is embarking on an investigation between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf' s new merger.
Last week, the PGA announced that to unify golf, they would join forces with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) -- the financial entity responsible for funding LIV Golf. The sovereign wealth fund is controlled by Crown Prince Mohammad bid Salman, who also serves as the chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs and chairman of the Council of Political and Security Affairs with a US net worth of $25billion.
PGA Tour President Jay Monahan was initially against the merger, imploring all golfers on tour to do what he considered the right thing ethnically and remain with the PGA -- which doesn't have a known history of humane corruption.
LIV has faced a litany of backlash since the announcement of the merger, with claims that its funds share ties to an awful human rights record. Nonetheless, LIV tour player Bryson DeChambeau has stated his belief that the union will be good for the overall culture of golf, suggesting that 9/11 families should forgive Saudi Arabia for their part during a tragic time in American history, stating that "nobody is perfect."
Connecticut Senator Blumenthal, chairman of the Senate Select Subcommittee on Investigations, sent a letter to LIV's CEO Greg Norman on Monday, demanding details regarding the member. Senator Blumenthal specifically asked to see records of disputes, merger details, and communications between the PGA and LIV dating back to October of 2021 when the Saudi-backed golf organisation was launched.
"While few details about the agreement are known, PIF’s role as an arm of the Saudi government and PGA Tour’s sudden and drastic reversal of position concerning LIV Golf raises serious questions regarding the reasons for and terms behind the announced agreement," wrote Blumenthal in the letter. "Accordingly, I write to request documents and information related to this agreement."
"PIF is an investment fund of more than $700bn created by the Saudi government and run by a board that makes investment decisions under ‘the chairmanship and guidance’ of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, the effective Saudi leader," the letter continued. "PGA Tour’s agreement with PIF regarding LIV Golf raises concerns about the Saudi government’s role in influencing this effort and the risks posed by a foreign government entity assuming control over a cherished American institution."
Beyond communications and records of the merger, the Senator also asked for information surrounding the corporate business structure of LIV Gold and any law enforcement investigation details that would have taken place throughout the merger process.
Blumenthal's personal belief of the PGA and LIV merger was an attempt to try and get the world to view Saudi Arabia in a more positive light after their heinous human rights violations on American and Saudi Arabian soil.
The PGA and LIV have avoided labelling the deal as an official merger, stating that both parties would retain non-profit status, and the joint commercial entity would be a supplementary asset to the companies.
Outside of the merger, Blumenthal and additional politicians believe that the Saudis' sports investments in Formula 1 and the Premier League are a "sports washing" strategy to change how the world looks at their country.
