June 12, ((THEWILL) – US Senator, Richard Blumenthal, has launched an investigation into the merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, announcing his concerns over the involvement of the Saudi government and the potential risks associated with a foreign entity taking control of an esteemed American institution.
Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat and Chairman of the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, specifically requested access to relevant documents and information related to the agreement between the two golfing organisations. LIV Golf, which is funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, has faced accusations of sportswashing, an alleged tactic used by the Saudi government to divert attention from human rights violations.
The Public Investment Fund, overseen by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, already has a notable presence in the sports world, with ownership of English Premier League club Newcastle United and a 75 percent stake in four Saudi Pro League clubs. According to Kevin Draper and Alan Blinder of the New York Times, LIV Golf executives had anticipated significant scrutiny from the US government regarding their agreement. There is a real possibility that Blumenthal’s investigation may lead to potential legislative action against the merger.
Other Senate Democrats, including Sen. Dick Durbin, have also expressed reservations about the deal, suggesting a need to further explore its implications in relation to foreign relations and business dealings. In contrast, Republican Sen. Ron Johnson argued that the US government should refrain from intervening in the realm of sports, while former President Donald Trump hailed the merger as “GREAT NEWS” on Truth Social, applauding it as a momentous development for the world of golf.
The PGA Tour has already captured the attention of US federal authorities. The Justice Department’s antitrust investigators have been examining the tour’s efforts to prevent players from defecting to LIV Golf and scrutinising potential close ties between the tour’s leaders and other prominent golf organisations, such as the Augusta National Golf Club, organiser of the Masters Tournament. With this new merger, the Justice Department’s interest is expected to intensify further.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
