Ore, North Plains — The second event of the Saudi-sponsored LIV Golf Tour took place on Thursday and on September 11th for a family member who lost a loved one. Made the group angry. The Saudi Arabian government held it to explain the terrorist attacks.
About 10 families and survivors spoke in a small park honoring veterans in the small North Plains, where the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club is located.
"This event is just a group of highly talented athletes who appear to have turned their backs on murder," said Tim, a survivor injured in the collapse of the World Trade Center tower. Florich said. ..
The LIV Golf Series, funded by the Saudi Arabian Sovereign Wealth Fund, made its first stop in the United States this week after making its debut outside London this month.
Carlos Ortiz led Thursday with a 5 under 67. 2020 Masters winner Dustin Johnson has counterattacked. Pat Perez, Brenden Grace and Hideto Tadihara took the lead by two strokes.
An up-and-coming series led by CEO Greg Norman challenges the PGA We toured with the aim of attracting players with big contracts and abundant prize money. However, critics call the tour an attempt at "sportswashing" and undermine Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses, including the killing of US-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.
Locally, the opposition is 15-year-old Fallon Smart's 2016 hit-and-run death. The Saudis accused in this case disappeared by disconnecting the surveillance device shortly before his trial. US officials believe he was cheered up by the Saudi Arabian government.
And there is his family on September 11th. They contacted some of the individual golfers on the tour, but the audience was not recognized. The group produced an ad that aired on local television.
"These golfers sleeping with Saudis need to know what they are doing. Shame on them. And it's just a golf match. Please shame them, "said Brett Eagleson, head of the 9/11 Justice Group, who lost his father at the World Trade Center. "I encourage them to live with our eye sores, listen to us, walk in our shoes and hear what we have to say about the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Pumpkin Ridge had a prominent police and guard presence, including a front gate police officer. There were rumors of a designated protest area in a parking lot, but no one knew where it was. Tickets for the event warned fans that they could not display political signs.
Phil Mickelson was a six-time major winner and a top draw on the tour.had one of the big galleries on the first day. He was playing in a group with Charl Schwartzel, who lost the ball on his first drive of the day. Fans along the fairway said they believed the fairway had landed on a tree.
"I don't have many opportunities to meet these guys in this area. "People," said the audience Will Knowles. "I'm away from politics."
The event took place in two courses, so it was difficult to keep track of the size of the crowd and LIV Golf did not disclose the number of attendees.
For golfers, part of the appeal of LIV golf is money. In addition to significant contract money, the 48-man field is competing for a $ 20 million wallet, with an additional $ 5 million in prize money for team competition. Schwartzel won the London event (and team part) and earned $ 4.75 million.
There are no cuts, and even the lowest finishers earn $ 120,000 payday. Organizers promise an exciting event they say will attract new fans. The 54-hole tournament certainly had a different atmosphere as the shotgun start and Rihanna rang from a huge sound system near the putting green. In addition to Mickelson who shot
75, major winners Johnson, Brooks Koepka (70) and Bryson DeChambeau (72) also participated in the LIV. The
PGA Tour responded to the challenge of LIV Golf by suspending all active members who participated in the first LIV event. Those who play in Oregon will also be suspended unless they resign from their tour membership.