Saudi influence in sports (Golf, Tennis...)

[Jezza]

I'm not fully versed on the situation, but what do golf fans/observers make of this?

From afar, it seems like the Saudis have muscled their way into golf by spending obscene amounts of money for sportswashing purposes.

[stui magpie]

From what I've read Jezza, you've nailed it.

It's textbook Packer and world series cricket.

Try to deal with the establishment and get told to F off, so create a break away league paying some stars a shitpile of money and threaten litigation.

Establishment caves, you effectively get control of the product (at a large $ cost but you can afford it) then fold up the breakaway league as it's done it's job.

[K]

It looks shameful, Jezza.

The difference between this and Packer is the whole ethics/sportswashing thing.

If it were just Norman on his own, it'd be more like Packer.

[Jezza]

Jon Rahm defects to LIV.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-08/ ... /103206378

[K]

That's a lotta $$$.

[Donny]

Thousands of people starving and dying for want of food and clean water and these appalling humans (Yes, you too, G Norman) are throwing money around like it's confetti.

[K]

...
From afar, it seems like the Saudis have muscled their way into golf by spending obscene amounts of money for sportswashing purposes.

Jezza, rumblings getting louder about tennis, now...

And criticism of Rafa's deal...

[Jezza]

^ Yep it's becoming increasingly inevitable that tennis is next in Saudi's sights

[K]

Don't ya wish they'd splash their money on areas that need it? i.e. not sport...

[Donny]

"Tyrrell Hatton has left the PGA Tour and made the jump to LIV Golf, signing for $63 million."

https://au.sports.yahoo.com/report-tyrr ... 52460.html

Tyrrell Who ?? Ranked 16th. in the World.

This is craziness.

[K]

^ Yep it's becoming increasingly inevitable that tennis is next in Saudi's sights

'The event [6 Kings Slam] marked the latest move into tennis for Saudi Arabia, which is hosting the WTA Finals in two weeks in Riyadh and the Next Gen ATP Finals for top 21-and-under players in Jeddah through 2027.

There has been discussion about a combined 1000-level men’s and women’s event in Saudi Arabia in January or February around the Australian Open, but nothing is imminent, according to The Athletic.

World No. 8 Casper Ruud said it’s “inevitable” that Saudi Arabia will be “big in tennis” in the future.

“I am sure it will be more and more in the future, and there are also a lot of rumors on the ATP tour if there is going to be an extra tournament in Saudi Arabia,” Ruud said per spilxperte. “I have chosen not to go so far, but it seems to me that it is inevitable, that they will somehow be big in tennis in the future and they already have the Next Gen Finals, so let's see what the future brings.”

Tennis greats Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova objected to playing in Saudi Arabia because of the country’s history of human rights violations and treatment of women and homosexuals.

Saudi Arabia has also made inroads in football, boxing and golf, and former world No. 1 John McEnroe has called it a slippery slope for tennis.

“Personally, I disagree with it completely, with the golf and the tennis,” he said on a recent ESPN conference call. “The ladies are going to play the WTA Finals there? Are you kidding me? Because they treat women so well? That part is to me laughable.

“At the same time, which is also laughable, is the people that can criticize tennis players or golfers for doing something that virtually every business and the government do, which is deal with Saudi Arabia.”'

(A. Zagoria, Forbes)

[Jezza]

The prize money for an exhibition tournament is mental

https://www.euronews.com/2024/10/20/ita ... udi-arabia