www.theguardian.com Open in urlscan Pro
2a04:4e42:600::367  Public Scan

Form analysis
1 forms found in the DOM

https://www.google.co.uk/search

<form action="https://www.google.co.uk/search" class="dcr-g8v7m4"><label for="src-component-3334774" class="dcr-0">
    <div class="dcr-19ilr9m">Search input </div>
  </label><input type="text" id="src-component-3334774" aria-required="true" aria-invalid="false" aria-describedby="" required="" name="q" placeholder="Search" data-link-name="nav2 : search" tabindex="-1" class="selectableMenuItem dcr-1xcf7cw"><label
    class="dcr-0">
    <div class="dcr-19ilr9m">google-search </div>
    <div class="dcr-190ztmi"><svg width="30" viewBox="-3 -3 30 30" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" aria-hidden="true">
        <path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd"
          d="M9.273 2c4.023 0 7.25 3.295 7.25 7.273a7.226 7.226 0 0 1-7.25 7.25C5.25 16.523 2 13.296 2 9.273 2 5.295 5.25 2 9.273 2Zm0 1.84A5.403 5.403 0 0 0 3.84 9.274c0 3 2.409 5.454 5.432 5.454 3 0 5.454-2.454 5.454-5.454 0-3.023-2.454-5.432-5.454-5.432Zm7.295 10.887L22 20.16 20.16 22l-5.433-5.432v-.932l.91-.909h.931Z">
        </path>
      </svg><span class="dcr-1p0hins">Search</span></div>
  </label><button type="submit" aria-live="polite" aria-label="Search with Google" data-link-name="nav2 : search : submit" tabindex="-1" class="dcr-a7qyd9">
    <div class="src-button-space"></div><svg width="30" viewBox="-3 -3 30 30" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" aria-hidden="true">
      <path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M1 12.956h18.274l-7.167 8.575.932.932L23 12.478v-.956l-9.96-9.985-.932.932 7.166 8.575H1v1.912Z"></path>
    </svg>
  </button><input type="hidden" name="as_sitesearch" value="www.theguardian.com"></form>

Text Content

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation
Print subscriptions
Sign in
Search jobs
Search
US edition
 * US edition
 * UK edition
 * Australia edition
 * International edition

The Guardian - Back to homeThe Guardian


SUPPORT THE GUARDIAN

Fund independent journalism with $5 per month
Support us

Support us
 * News
 * Opinion
 * Sport
 * Culture
 * Lifestyle

ShowMoreShow More
 * News
   * View all News
   * US news
   * World news
   * Environment
   * Soccer
   * US politics
   * Business
   * Tech
   * Science
   * Newsletters
   * Fight for democracy
   
 * Opinion
   * View all Opinion
   * The Guardian view
   * Columnists
   * Letters
   * Opinion videos
   * Cartoons
   
 * Sport
   * View all Sport
   * Soccer
   * NFL
   * Tennis
   * MLB
   * MLS
   * NBA
   * NHL
   * F1
   * Golf
   
 * Culture
   * View all Culture
   * Film
   * Books
   * Music
   * Art & design
   * TV & radio
   * Stage
   * Classical
   * Games
   
 * Lifestyle
   * View all Lifestyle
   * Fashion
   * Food
   * Recipes
   * Love & sex
   * Home & garden
   * Health & fitness
   * Family
   * Travel
   * Money
 * Search input
   google-search
   Search
   
   
    * Support us
    * Print subscriptions

   US edition
   * UK edition
   * Australia edition
   * International edition
   
 * * Search jobs
   * Digital Archive
   * Guardian Puzzles app
   * Guardian Licensing
   * The Guardian app
   * Video
   * Podcasts
   * Pictures
   * Inside the Guardian
   * Guardian Weekly
   * Crosswords
   * Wordiply
   * Corrections
 * * Facebook
   * Twitter
 * * Search jobs
   * Digital Archive
   * Guardian Puzzles app
   * Guardian Licensing

 * Soccer
 * NFL
 * Tennis
 * MLB
 * MLS
 * NBA
 * NHL
 * F1
 * Golf


Merchandise for sale at the Los Angeles Country Club before the US Open.
Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images
Merchandise for sale at the Los Angeles Country Club before the US Open.
Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images
Golf



‘WHERE IS THE HONOUR AND INTEGRITY?’ READERS ON GOLF’S SAUDI TAKEOVER

Guardian readers from around the world have been in touch to share their
reactions, with many golf fans expressing dismay


Caroline Bannock, Rachel Obordo and Guardian readers
Thu 15 Jun 2023 05.33 EDTLast modified on Thu 15 Jun 2023 06.27 EDT
 * 
 * 
 * 



When the US Open begins on Thursday, focus will not just be on the competition
but how the players react after the shock announcement last week that the PGA
and DP World Tours are merging commercial operations with the rebel LIV circuit.

The multi-billion-dollar investment from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund
(PIF) has brought to an end a year of dispute in the sport that forced players
to choose sides. Though Rory McIlroy has said the PGA Tour now has a “brighter”
future because of the PIF deal – he has also called for consequences over
breakaway players who “irreparably harmed” the Tour.



Guardian readers from around the world have been in touch to share their
reactions, with many golf fans expressing dismay at the PGA Tour’s decision and
airing concerns about Saudi Arabia effectively taking control of top-level golf.

As John, a retiree from Paris, says: “The objection for many will not be that
billions may pour into the sport, but that the Saudi government will be in
charge – not just a government with no history or tradition of golf, but with a
very dubious (to say the least) record on human rights.”

“This merger demonstrates the weaknesses on both sides: the PGA needs cash, the
PIF wants credibility,” adds PK from London.


The LIV Golf Invitational in Jeddah last October. Photograph: Joe Scarnici/LIV
Golf/Getty Images

Andrew, a copywriter from NYC who has been playing golf since he was 12, is one
of many to make the wider point about sportswashing. “Everything is for sale in
the modern world and it makes me feel sick. Despite being a great sports fan, I
have not watched the World Cup or the Olympics for some years. I also have
stopped watching the Premier League as it does not stick to its own rules on
suitable ownership. Abu Dhabi has never been a fit owner for Manchester City and
the Saudi Public Investment Fund is not a fit owner for either Newcastle United
or world golf.”



Jerry Johnston in Australia says: “Sport has always been the last line of
defence in a world where political or economic realities make it too difficult
for governments to hold countries accountable for human rights abuses. The deal
between the PGA and LIV has eliminated this last line of defence. The pretence
that we care is over – for what? More money?”

How Saudi Arabia took over professional golf
Read more

Many amateur golfers feel let down by the PGA. “I am saddened that the PGA has
sold its soul to the Saudi foundation and I continue to admire the players who
remained with the PGA and did not sell out,” says Pamela, a retired nurse
practitioner from Los Angeles. “I agree with McIlroy that the LIV players need
some penalties and should not be not allowed to waltz back into the PGA like
nothing has happened. I am not certain how much I will continue to watch PGA
events in the future.”

Louis Boulerice in Canada says: “I love golf. I play golf. I have been watching
golf on TV as a way to be close to my dad for decades. I love the game, but it’s
just been sold to greed. I am not wasting another hour of my time watching and
cheering players on TV. The players are so good, but I just cannot support an
organisation that values money over the game.”

Others are philosophical about the partnership. “Professional golf is like most
professional sports – all about money,” reckons David, who has played the sport
for more than 50 years. “The Saudis coming in is probably good news as it stops
all the media sniping between the two sides.”

“It’s down at the grassroots where the most anger or dismay at this sudden
rapprochement is found,” notes John, a pensioner in Germany. “It does rankle
quite a lot, especially after hearing all the fighting talk that came out of the
leaders of the PGA and DP World organisations.”

And Russell Pearse, in Sydney, asks: “Where is the honour and integrity in this?
For me at the grassroots level, I will continue to honour the rules and
traditions of the game, calling penalties on myself if necessary, playing the
game out of love and passion and fun.”

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you move on, I was hoping you would
consider taking the step of supporting the Guardian’s journalism. 

From Elon Musk to Rupert Murdoch, a small number of billionaire owners have a
powerful hold on so much of the information that reaches the public about what’s
happening in the world. The Guardian is different. We have no billionaire owner
or shareholders to consider. Our journalism is produced to serve the public
interest – not profit motives.

And we avoid the trap that befalls much US media – the tendency, born of a
desire to please all sides, to engage in false equivalence in the name of
neutrality. While fairness guides everything we do, we know there is a right and
a wrong position in the fight against racism and for reproductive justice. When
we report on issues like the climate crisis, we’re not afraid to name who is
responsible. And as a global news organization, we’re able to provide a fresh,
outsider perspective on US politics – one so often missing from the insular
American media bubble. 

Around the world, readers can access the Guardian’s paywall-free journalism
because of our unique reader-supported model. That’s because of people like you.
Our readers keep us independent, beholden to no outside influence and accessible
to everyone – whether they can afford to pay for news, or not.

If you can, please consider supporting the Guardian today. Thank you.

Betsy Reed

Editor, Guardian US





Contribution frequency
Single
Monthly
Annual

Contribution amount
$5 per month
$7 per month
Other
Continue

Remind me in August
Topics
 * Golf

 * PGA Tour
 * European Tour
 * LIV Golf Series
 * Australia sport
 * US sports
 * features

 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 

Reuse this content





MOST VIEWED


MOST VIEWED



 * Soccer
 * NFL
 * Tennis
 * MLB
 * MLS
 * NBA
 * NHL
 * F1
 * Golf

 * News
 * Opinion
 * Sport
 * Culture
 * Lifestyle

Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning
Sign up for our email

 * About us
 * Help
 * Complaints & corrections
 * SecureDrop
 * Work for us
 * California resident – Do Not Sell
 * Privacy policy
 * Cookie policy
 * Terms & conditions
 * Contact us

 * All topics
 * All writers
 * Digital newspaper archive
 * Facebook
 * YouTube
 * Instagram
 * LinkedIn
 * Twitter
 * Newsletters

 * Advertise with us
 * Guardian Labs
 * Search jobs


Back to top
© 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights
reserved. (modern)