Donald Trump urges PGA golfers to join LIV Golf Series and ‘take the money now’
Former US President Donald Trump has urged golfers to join the LIV Golf Series and “take the money”, despite pressure from families of 9/11 victims.
Former US President Donald Trump is encouraging PGA golfers to sign up with the controversial LIV Golf Series and “take the money now”, despite pressure from families of 9/11 victims.
Trump: PGA members will pay a big price
Trump warned players that those who choose to stay with the PGA will stand to lose when what he called “the inevitable merger” between the two golf organizations takes place.
He says that golfers should take the money that the Saudi-funded tour is offering at the moment, as it will disappear after the projected merger is completed. The 76-year-old says that PGA holdouts will realize too late that those who jumped ship earlier were more financially savvy.
Trump made the statements on Truth Social, a social media platform he founded.
Families of 9/11 victims write Trump
The organization of families called 9/11 Justice had sent a letter to Trump on Sunday, urging him to cancel the Series’ next leg which takes place at Trump National Golf Bedminster in New Jersey. They cited the tournament’s being bankrolled by Saudi Arabia, which the group says “is largely responsible for the death of our loved ones.”
The group is asking the former president to meet with them so that they can express their concerns and encourage him to stop doing business with the organization that is backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment fund.
The Congress-created 9/11 Commission had found “no evidence that the Saudi government as an institution” funded al Qaeda.
Human rights advocates have criticized the formation of the LIV Golf Series as a way to improve the reputation of Saudi Arabia, in a practice known as “sports washing”.
The tour, fronted by former world No.1 Greg Norman, is offering massive amounts of prize money, with each of the first seven events offering a purse of $25 million. On top of this, individual golfers have been offered mammoth contracts to commit to playing with the Series. Dustin Johnson reportedly signed up for $125 million, while Phil Mickelson has a reported contract with LIV for $200 million.