A group of survivors of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks actively voices opposition to the LIV Golf Invitational Series, which is sponsored by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund.
The Associated Press reported on the 30th that “survivors of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and their families will hold a protest against the LIV Invitational Series, which opens in Portland, Oregon on the same day.”
The LIV Golf Invitational Series, which held its opening game near London earlier this month with the support of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, will hold its second tournament in Portland, USA for three days from the 30th.
This Portland Games is the first LIV Invitational Series to be held in the United States.
Organizations of 9/11 survivors and bereaved families earlier this month urged American players not to participate in the LIV tournament even before the opening game of the LIV series.
This is because many of the hijackers were Saudi nationals during the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and the Saudi government was behind the 2018 killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a dissident Saudi journalist for the Washington Post.
It is argued that US players should not participate in golf tournaments that Saudi Arabia has committed against the United States, such as terrorism, and was created to launder its image.
Brett Eagleson, who lost his father in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, told The Associated Press, “Players who have moved on to the LIV series should make eye contact with us and listen to our stories. I have to explain,” he said.
In the LIV series, Saudi Arabia’s ‘Oil Money’ is offering a huge prize money and pulling out players from the US PGA Tour.
Schwartzl (South Africa), who won the individual and team events in the opening match, won 6 billion won at once.
Phil Mickelson, who headed for the LIV series, is estimated to have received a down payment of $100 million (about 130 billion won).
Eagleson, who has been a fan of Mickelson since childhood, said, “Three thousand Americans have died, and chasing after money regardless of such things is the worst greed.”
Oregon senator Ron Wyden, as well as groups of survivors of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, expressed their opposition to the LIV event in the United States.
The LIV Invitational Series will host four more American tournaments: New Jersey in July, Boston and Chicago in September, and Miami in October.
/yunhap news
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