It is golf’s turn to be in the court of public opinion following the appearance of a new tour in the game.
Big names like Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter have been accused of selling out by ignoring instructions from the PGA Tour and European Tour and opting to compete in the LIV Golf Invitational Series.
But try telling that to Charl Schwartzel who walked away with £4million for effectively three days’ work at the conclusion of the first event in London on Saturday.
Selling out? He and his colleagues bought in by accepting invitations to play for riches on an unprecedented scale.
Money talks as golfers walk
Ultimately that’s what the new tour which is backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) boiled down to – a lucrative series of events which is simply too good an offer to turn down.
The big issue has been that no-one wants to say that quiet part out loud. Some were paid millions just for signing up.
But others looked at the guaranteed money from every LIV Golf event on the table even for finishing last and regarded it as a no-brainer.
As a spectacle it was all a bit of a non-event really. There are some fine players there but the field is also bloated by others who, to be polite, are stone cold in terms of form on a golf course right now.
It did not make for thrilling viewing as a result and the exhibition match feel to it all left a lot to be desired.
Not that the actual play was remotely of interest with almost all the coverage on the controversy of these players accepting money from the Saudi regime.
Few seem too concerned, however.
If you are happy to turn the other cheek and not give any thought to the fact the money is coming from a country with atrocious human rights records then no doubt it is easy to block out all the noise and sleep at night.
List of players joining is only getting longer
Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Reed’s decision to join the new tour shows more professionals are coming round to the idea of leaving the PGA Tour and European Tour, and forsaking prestigious events such as the Ryder Cup for LIV Golf too.
They won’t be the last.
Their critics say these players are helping the Gulf kingdom of Saudi Arabia engage in sportwashing by using high profile events as a propaganda tool.
In other words, don’t look at how we treat minorities or our human rights record but please enjoy our wealth and prestige we can offer.
Greg Norman, tour commissioner for LIV Golf, believes the investment is a sign Saudi Arabia is making a cultural change and looking to show the world it is improving.
But the assassination and dismemberment of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 and its links to the Saudi government, and the country’s abysmal human rights record, makes it hard to square the support of sporting events with all the horrendous other incidents.
But it does all seem mighty convenient for golfing bodies to now be up in arms about it all.
The European Tour was happy to be on board with the Saudi state funded PIF as a key strategic partner of the Saudi Golf Championship from 2019 to 2021.
But now a rival is taking their players away for even more money? Oh no, you can’t do that.
Players have been won over by lure of unprecedented riches
Is it right that a country can have such a dreadful reputation internationally with its record on human rights of treatment of its citizens yet be welcomed with open arms at sporting events?
No, but as long as people are willing to take the money – whether it be sporting organisations or individuals, then those hoping to take the moral high ground are fighting a losing battle on this.
No amount of wailing or gnashing of teeth is going to change that – and if event one at Centurion Club is anything to go by – the players are more than happy with their new surroundings no matter what their detractors think.
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