Forget all you’ve read this is a money versus ethics battle and, right now, money is the clear winner. The US PGA Commissioner blew it big time. He thought he could ignore the Saudi Wealth Fund and preserve his domain. He was wrong. He couldn’t get enough advertiser money to compete and he saw that he was losing ground because more of the top US players were defecting. So–following the old saying–if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em–he surrendered. The problem is that surrender will soon be unconditional because the Saudi money is limitless. Soon the combined tours (whatever it’s called) will be dominated by the same people who attacked us on September 11, 2001. Despite the huge tragedy of that day and the strong evidence of the Saudi Prince killing an American journalist (and dismembering him) and the terrible record of human rights violations that we oppose across the globe–money wins. You can’t blame the golfers. they are independent contractors who work for a living. They will go where their income prospects are best for themselves and their families. But the money tree grows in Saudi Arabia and it overshadows all the ad money the US PGA could muster. Our prediction: this will NOT be a happy marriage. The details will be discussed for the rest of this year and the US PGA will clearly lose out. Of course the golf world will try to put a smiley face on changes but you’ll see the Saudi hand in Commissioner Beman’s pocket every step of the way. Watch for schedule, rule and personnel changes for the 2024 year.
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