Brian Harman’s brilliant performance in winning the 2023 Open Championship and lifting the Claret Jug last week was a welcome break from the news about the pending agreement between the PGA Tour’s, DP World Tour’s and Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund.
The Telegraph first reported the news, and em>Golfweek/em> confirmed it. However, R&A officials would not comment on a private discussion. The Telegraph first broke the news, and Golfweek confirmed it. R&A officials refused to comment on what was a private conversation.
Al-Rumayyan, Staveley and R&A were brought secretly to the property by a sponsor. However, reports claim that the meeting was “more symbolic than substantive.”
Slumbers talked about Saudi money in golf and its role last week, ahead of the first round of the men’s final major championship for the year. He said he was “very receptive” to talking to “various sponsors.”
“We work with a large number of corporate partners to make this happen. I believe the world has changed over the past year. Not just golf. You can see it in soccer. You can see it in F1. Cricket is a good example. “I’m sure that tennis will not be far behind,” said Slumbers. The world of sport changed dramatically over the past 12 months. It is not possible for the R&A and golf to ignore this societal shift on a worldwide basis. We will consider all options within the parameters of the R&A and golf.
Before a match on February 26, 2023, Manchester United’s co-chairman Avram Glaser (R) and Newcastle United chairman Yasir al-Rumayyan are seen with minority owner Amanda Staveley and Manchester United chairman Yasir al-Rumayyan. (Photo by Glyn KIRK/AFP)
LIV Golf, which has had the PIF as its sole and primary investor for many years, was seen by some as a way to “sportswash”, or cover up, Saudi Arabia’s controversial human rights record. The same criticisms were made of the PIF purchasing Premier League club Newcastle United. Al-Rumayyan, the team’s chairman, and Staveley, a co-investor, are both PIF investors.
