Since LIV Golf and the PGA announced their merger, there have been calls for the Department of Justice to investigate the merger.
The merger of the established PGA with controversial Saudi-backed LIV Golf raised questions about possible antitrust violations. Many have criticized LIV as an effort by Saudi Arabia to “sportswash” its history of human atrocities and terrorist acts.
In order to get to the bottom of all of this, the Senate is now holding hearings and has invited both tours to testify.
According to ESPN, the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee invited PGA commissioner Jay Monahan, LIV CEO and commissioner Greg Norman and Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, to testify at a July 11 hearing.
The committee sent them all a letter on Wednesday.
“Our goal is to uncover the facts about what went into the PGA Tour’s deal with the Saudi Public Investment Fund and what the Saudi takeover means for the future of this cherished American institution and our national interest,” subcommittee chairman Sen. Richard Blumenthal, (D-Conn.) said in a statement. “Americans deserve to know what the structure and governance of this new entity will be. Major actors in the deal are best positioned to provide this information, and they owe Congress — and the American people — answers in a public setting.”
The leaders of both tours were asked to provide a statement to the committee. The PGA Tour officials seem to be open to the idea, saying that they “looked forward” to answering questions. Meanwhile, no word if the officials from LIV will participate.
{ESPN}
About Stacey Mickles
Stacey is a 1995 graduate of the University of Alabama who has previously worked for other publications such as Sportskeeda and Saturday Down South.