A Liverpool company has decided to become a sponsor of an international golfer taking part in the controversial LIV Golf series which has been hit by the widespread human rights concerns connected to its main backer, Saudi Arabia.
Digital security software specialist Videosign announced on Wednesday it had become an official sponsor of Oliver Bekker.
The South African took part in the first event of the breakaway competition in London earlier this month.
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The 54-hole tournament got underway on Thursday, June 9, with a prize fund of £3.8m on offer to the winner.
Overall, £25m was distributed to the 48-man field while a team competition ran alongside the individual event. The series has now moved on to the US.
The sponsorship deal comes after Videosign recently secured a £1.15m investment from Moonstone Group, which provides a portfolio of compliance, education and fintech services to the financial services market in South Africa.
A number of major golfers taking part in the LIV Golf series have been dropped by some of their sponsors after taking part, including Royal Bank of Canada which ended its deals with Dustin Johnson and Graeme McDowell.
On its decision to sponsor Mr Bekker, a Videosign spokesperson told the ECHO: "Videosign has sponsored Oliver because we want him to succeed, and he has our support in decisions he makes about his sporting career.
"We share the concern that many people have expressed about Saudi Arabia's human rights record, and we hope that the debate prompted by LIV Golf and other Saudi investment in sport will help to raise awareness of these issues and lead to positive change."
The press conferences at the first event in London were signified by difficult questions over the notion of 'sportswashing'. Ian Poulter refused to answer if he'd play in a tournament organised by Vladimir Putin. Lee Westwood meanwhile was quizzed on whether he would have played in South Africa during Apartheid.
In a statement announcing the deal, Videosign chief executive Steven Tallant said: " We’re proud to have become Oliver’s newest sponsor and look forward to seeing the Videosign name on the fairways.
"South Africa is a country that has really embraced Videosign, and I’m really happy to be able to say thank you by supporting one of the country’s top sportsmen."
Mr Bekker is a seven-time winner on the South African Sunshine Tour and was second in the 2021 South African Open.
He added: "Using Videosign to agree this new partnership was a great experience.
"There was no need for printing documents or waiting for the mail - I met Steven on Videosign, we had a conversation, and signed the contract there and then.
"This must be the easiest contract sponsorship contract I’ve ever signed."
