NORTH PLAINS, Ore. — Brett Eagleson never expected to be here, just 20 miles west of Portland, talking about Saudi Arabia. But the son of one of the nearly 3,000 Americans killed in the largest terrorist attack on U.S. soil is determined to share his story, and Saudi Arabia’s role in it.
Specifically, he’d like to share it with the 48 professional golfers who have recently signed up with LIV, the new, Saudi-funded, PGA Tour alternative that makes its stateside debut Thursday at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club. Eagleson said those 48 have “taken the blood money,” while PGA golfers like Rory McElroy, Scottie Scheffler and Kevin Kisner — all of whom have criticized LIV — have shown they value “accountability, truth and justice.”
Controversy has surrounded LIV Golf since its inception, though the players taking checks from it continually sidestep questions about their decision to align themselves with Saudi Arabia. Earlier this week, Bryson DeChambeau said he thought “moving on” from questions about Saudi Arabia’s human rights atrocities was the best decision, while Pat Perez argued he was just “here to play golf.”
