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John BarrESPN.com
BEDMINSTER, N.J. — The three latest LIV Golf members met the media Wednesday amid protests from 9/11 households towards the Saudi-backed golf leagues occasion being held this weekend lower than 50 miles from the location of the World Commerce Heart.
I am very conscious of the ramifications of creating this alternative, mentioned Paul Casey, whos presently ranked No. 26 within the Official World Golf Rating.
Casey on Monday mentioned his coronary heart goes out to the households of 9/11 victims, however when requested Wednesday about Saudi Arabias observe document on human rights, he mentioned that by not participating and never collaborating and never touring to nations, you harden positions for those who do this.
Casey, 44, who has three profession PGA Tour titles along with his 15 wins on the DP World Tour, joined Charles Howell III and Jason Kokrak in fielding questions Wednesday for greater than half-hour, with many revolving across the Saudi Arabian cash financing LIV Golf and Saudi Arabias troubling document of human rights abuses.
By becoming a member of LIV, gamers have shamelessly partnered with the very nation that U.S. intelligence experiences show had quite a few connections to the assaults on Sept. 11, Terry Strada, chair of 9/11 Households United, mentioned at a information convention Tuesday.
9/11 Justice, one other group representing relations of these killed within the terrorist assaults, have launched a tv commercial criticizing the LIV Tours Saudi ties and has plans to carry a information convention Friday.
In March 2019, Casey was one of many first skilled golfers to talk out about Saudi Arabias involvement within the sport, when he declined to play within the Saudi Invitational. On the time, Casey, who had labored as an envoy for UNICEF, cited ongoing battle in Yemen and Saudi Arabias army involvement there.
Ive seen the numbers. In Yemen 22 million individuals are dealing with hunger; 11.5 million of them youngsters, Casey mentioned then, including that he can be a hypocrite to take part within the Saudi match.
On Wednesday, Casey, who has since performed in a number of Saudi invitationals, mentioned he is seen change taking place within the kingdom, though Casey, Kokrak and Howell all declined to reply extra detailed questions on Saudi Arabias document of human rights abuses involving ladies and the LGBTQ neighborhood,
I am very conscious of the ramifications of creating this alternative, mentioned Casey, who has three profession PGA Tour titles along with his 15 wins on the DP World Tour.
Howell, 43, denied that his determination to leap to the LIV collection was merely a monetary transfer.
No, cash was not an element, Howell mentioned. For me, I have been there [the PGA Tour] for 22 years and it has been superior. Ive obtained nothing however nice issues to say in regards to the PGA Tour, what theyve given me.
A veteran of greater than 600 PGA Tour occasions, Howell additionally cited the chance to play in a collection run by his boyhood idol, LIV Golf CEO and commissioner Greg Norman.
Greg Norman was my hero as a child rising up, Howell mentioned. Yearly on the Masters and Augusta, I could not wait to get on the market and see Greg Norman play. He was an idol. I had a life-sized cardboard cutout of Greg in my room.
Howell, Casey and Kokrak will be a part of former World No. 2 Henrik Stenson this weekend as the most recent arrivals on the LIV Tour. Stensons determination not too long ago led to him being stripped of his European captaincy for the 2023 Ryder Cup.
Stenson is anticipated to deal with the media Thursday.
On Wednesday, Casey mentioned he would like to nonetheless be a part of the Ryder Cup, but when that is not an possibility, then that is not an possibility.
