Saudi Arabia’s quest to take over pro golf
Post Reports
The Washington Post
4.4 • 5.1K Ratings
🗓️ 11 July 2023
⏱️ 20 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
It was a deal that stunned the world: The PGA will merge with LIV Golf, a rival league funded by the Saudi Arabian government. But many are unhappy, including members of Congress investigating it.
Read more:
For decades, the PGA Tour was the dominant organization in professional golf. Then the government of Saudi Arabia funded the creation of a new league, LIV Golf. Backed by millions in Saudi funding, LIV managed to attract several high-profile players, despite concerns about partnering with a country infamous for numerous human rights violations.
Initially, the PGA retaliated by banning golfers from participating in both leagues, and its commissioner even admonished those who would work with the Saudi government. That’s why many were stunned in early June when the PGA announced plans to go into business and partner with LIV Golf.
Since the announcement, golfers and fans have expressed shock and outrage over the surprise deal — and now a congressional committee is investigating the deal.
Sports columnist Sally Jenkins joins us to explain why the PGA is joining forces with the Saudi government.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Today's hearing is about much more than the game of golf. |
| 0:07.6 | It's about how a brutal, repressive regime can buy influence, indeed, even take over |
| 0:14.5 | a cherished American institution to cleanse its public image. |
| 0:23.0 | Today on Capitol Hill, a bipartisan group of lawmakers held a hearing to find the answer |
| 0:28.2 | to one question, how could the Saudi Arabian government basically buy pro golf? |
| 0:34.3 | What is the amount of the Saudi investment that it's going to be made? |
| 0:37.5 | That has not been determined yet. |
| 0:40.3 | That Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, he's questioning a PGA tour |
| 0:45.2 | official. |
| 0:46.2 | Has there been any discussion of what that amount will be? |
| 0:48.9 | It would be, there's been discussions, it would be a significant amount. |
| 0:52.2 | What are the amounts that have been discussed? |
| 0:54.2 | About the amount of one billion. |
| 0:58.6 | The PGA tour and the Saudi-backed live golf are planning to merge together. |
| 1:03.6 | And it's a decision that's stunned almost everyone. |
| 1:06.9 | It's forced golf's top players and officials to confront uncomfortable issues, like the |
| 1:11.6 | Saudi government's role in the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Kashoggi. |
| 1:16.2 | I don't condone human rights violations at all. |
| 1:20.2 | I don't think nobody here does any throughout the world. |
| 1:24.6 | But despite their discomfort with Saudi involvement, some, like Star Golf or Phil Mickelson, who |
| 1:29.6 | was paid millions by live, say the deal is the future of golf. |
| 1:34.7 | I've also seen the good that the game of golf is done throughout history, and I believe |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from The Washington Post, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of The Washington Post and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.