Congress introduces bill aimed at PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger, Saudi Arabia ‘sportswash’

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Congress has officially stepped in following the skilled golf merger that shocked everybody within the recreation on Tuesday. 

The uniting of the PGA Tour, the Saudi Public Funding Fund (PIF) and the DP World Tour took everybody, together with the gamers who weren’t within the know, unexpectedly. 

Nonetheless, whereas Senate Republican Chief Mitch McConnell didn’t consider that governmental concern was warranted, others are taking motion. 

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John Garamendi at podium

Rep. John Garamendi, D-Calif., speaks throughout a information convention on Wall Avenue bonus taxes on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010. (Invoice Clark/Roll Name/Getty Photographs)

Rep. John Garamendi, D-Calif., has launched the “No Company Tax Exemption for Skilled Sports activities Act,” and in doing so, is pointing the finger instantly on the new golf entity. 

Saudi Arabia can’t be allowed to ‘sportswash’ its authorities’s horrific human rights abuses and the 2018 homicide of American-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi by taking on the PGA [Tour],” Garamendi mentioned in an announcement, through Yahoo Sports activities. 

“PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan ought to be ashamed of the blatant hypocrisy and about-face he and the remainder of PGA’s management demonstrated by permitting the sovereign wealth fund of a overseas authorities with an unconscionable human rights document to take over an iconic American sports activities league and keep away from paying a penny in federal company revenue tax. This merger flies within the face of the PGA gamers who turned down hundred-million-dollar paydays from the Saudi-backed LIV to align themselves with the proper aspect of historical past and human decency.”

MITCH MCCONNELL DOESN’T BELIEVE PGA TOUR MERGER WITH SAUDI-BACKED LIV GOLF HAS ‘GOVERNMENTAL CONCERN’

Nonetheless, Garamendi was not the one one on Capitol Hill to name out the merger. 

“I used to be actually sickened by it. I assumed the PGA was taking a principled stand,” Democrat Senator Tim Kaine instructed Fox Information. “Once I noticed the information yesterday, I used to be actually upset as a result of it appears they put aside all of the human rights objections that that they had and simply determined ‘okay, nicely, we will earn more money if we go a special course.'”

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., additionally referred to the historic deal as “blatant sportswashing.”

Jay Monahan speaks at podium

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan addresses the media throughout a press convention previous to the Vacationers Championship at TPC River Highlands on June 22, 2022 in Cromwell, Connecticut. (Michael Reaves/Getty Photographs)

“I’m upset and even outraged by the PGA’s sellout,” he mentioned. “The PGA out to be ashamed, and it is management, frankly, has misplaced all credibility, actually all ethical authority.”

Whereas Garamendi pointed to the 2018 homicide of Khashoggi, the 9/11 terrorist assaults have additionally come into focus, particularly, Monahan’s feedback on them in relation to his earlier stance in opposition to the Saudi-backed league.

9/11 Households United Chair Terry Strada mentioned Tuesday following the merger announcement that “PGA Tour leaders ought to be ashamed of their hypocrisy and greed.”

Jay Monahan talking

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan speaks to the media as a preview for THE PLAYERS Championship on THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 7, 2023 in Ponte Vedra Seaside, Florida. (David Cannon/Getty Photographs)

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Whereas the PGA Tour mentioned the aim of this new entity is to “​​unify the sport of golf, on a world foundation,” there are nonetheless many inquiries to be answered concerning the merger – sufficient inquiries to immediate governmental intervention. 

Fox Information’ Ethan Barton and Jon Michael Raasch contributed to this report.

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