Jackson Reid
Saudi Arabia has been accused of attempting to buy golf through a series of aggressive investments and acquisitions aimed at bolstering the kingdom's global influence and soft power. This includes the establishment of LIV Golf, a Saudi government-backed golf league financed by the country's Public Investment Fund (PIF). The PIF has lured top golfers away from the PGA Tour by offering guaranteed payouts of $100 million or more, leading to accusations of sportswashing and attempts to paper over Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses. The PGA Tour and LIV Golf have since agreed to merge, with the new entity being financed by the Saudi government. In addition to its efforts in professional golf, Saudi Arabia is also trying to spark a golf craze within the country, with plans to increase the number of public-access courses and initiatives to teach golf to its citizens, including women.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for Saudi Arabia's involvement in the Gold Cup | Sportswashing, i.e., using sports as a diplomatic and economic tool to bolster the kingdom's global influence and soft power |
| Saudi Arabia's investment in golf | $2 billion from Saudi Arabia's $700 billion sovereign wealth fund (the Public Investment Fund, or PIF) |
| PIF's investment strategy | Funding ambitious tourism and commercial "giga projects" |
| PIF's other investments | Soccer clubs like Newcastle United, boxing, esports, and an investment fund run by Jared Kushner |
| LIV Golf | A Saudi-funded rival golf tour that lured players away from the PGA Tour with guaranteed payouts of $100 million or more |
| PGA Tour's response | Raising payouts; the two tours have now agreed to merge |
| PGA Tour players' response | Some felt betrayed, others welcomed the move |
| Saudi Arabia's golf courses | 13 public-access courses by 2030, up from 5 today, and a handful of private courses |
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What You'll Learn
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF)
The Public Investment Fund (PIF) is the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia. It was established in 1971 by King Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud with the stated purpose of providing financing support for projects of strategic significance to the national economy. The PIF is one of the world's largest sovereign wealth funds, with total estimated assets of US$925 billion. Over 60% of the fund's activities are within Saudi Arabia, with investments primarily going to private conglomerates with close ties to the Saudi ruling family.
Outside of Saudi Arabia, the PIF has also invested in prominent foreign assets, including Premier League football club Newcastle United, and has entered into partnerships with companies like Blackstone and SoftBank. In 2016, the PIF announced plans to establish a SoftBank Vision Fund, investing $45 billion in the tech sector. The fund has also committed to investing in renewable energy projects in Saudi Arabia, including the local manufacture of solar panels.
The PIF has come under scrutiny for its dealings in the United States, with concerns raised about its attempts to buy influence in the country through sportswashing. The fund has been involved in aggressive investments and strategic acquisitions in the sports industry, including golf, to bolster Saudi Arabia's global influence and soft power. Sen. Richard Blumenthal has been investigating the PIF's ongoing bid to create a merger between the Saudi-owned LIV Golf league and the PGA Tour.
The PIF is chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and is a key driver of Saudi Vision 2030, aiming to shape the future global economy while driving the economic transformation of Saudi Arabia.
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Saudi's golf sportswashing
Saudi Arabia's growing influence in professional golf has sparked debates about "sportswashing", a term referring to the practice of using sports to enhance a country's reputation and distract from negative issues. Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), established in 1971, has made significant investments in sports, including golf, as part of its Vision 2030 initiative to diversify its economy.
In 2022, PIF launched LIV Golf, a professional golf tour that attracted top players from the PGA Tour with lucrative contracts. This move was widely viewed as an attempt to sportswash Saudi Arabia's human rights record, including restrictions on free speech, women's rights, and the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. The PGA Tour's merger with LIV Golf in 2023 brought further criticism from human rights organisations, highlighting the ethical dilemmas faced by athletes and fans.
The PIF's involvement in golf has led to a conflict known as "golf's civil war," with some golfers accepting large contracts while others resist Saudi involvement. Notable golfers like Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have criticised the merger. The PIF has also faced legal challenges and investigations into its dealings, including attempts to block subpoenas issued by the US Senate subcommittee.
Saudi Arabia's investments in golf are part of a broader pattern of using sports to enhance its global influence and soft power. This includes acquisitions in football, Formula One, and boxing. Critics argue that these investments serve to divert attention from Saudi Arabia's human rights violations and suppress dissent.
While the conversation around Saudi Arabia and sportswashing has evolved, focusing on the financial gains for athletes, the underlying issues of sportswashing remain relevant. The kingdom's use of sports to reshape its international image and the ethical implications for sports organisations continue to be a subject of debate.
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LIV Golf and PGA Tour merger
The launch of LIV Golf in 2022 caused a divide in men's professional golf, with the league signing high-profile players like Jon Rahm, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, and Brooks Koepka. This move was seen as a threat to the PGA Tour, which responded by banning LIV golfers from participating in its events. The PGA Tour's commissioner, Jay Monahan, implied that golfers choosing to play in the LIV Golf league would be barred from PGA Tour tournaments.
The rivalry between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf has been likened to the proposed European Super League in football, with LIV Golf being accused of attempting to create a breakaway league. However, supporters of LIV Golf argue that it offers advantages such as easier competition with 54 holes and shorts, as well as substantial financial incentives.
Despite the ongoing rivalry, there have been attempts to reunify men's professional golf and bridge the divide between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. In 2023, a framework agreement was reached between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF), which backs LIV Golf. This agreement included a pledge to reach a deal that would see the PIF invest billions of dollars in PGA Tour Enterprises. However, as of March 2025, no merger agreement has been finalized, and both sides seem to be locked in a stalemate over the future of the sport and the role of LIV's team-golf model.
Rory McIlroy, a five-time major winner and former World No. 1, has expressed his thoughts on the merger negotiations. While he acknowledges the benefits of reunification and the opportunity for the best golfers to compete together, he doesn't feel that a deal is imminent. McIlroy cites the PGA Tour's momentum, including rising TV ratings and the success of its top players, as reasons why a deal with LIV Golf is not urgently needed. He believes that the two sides should eventually move forward together, but the current dynamics and differences between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf present significant challenges.
Adam Scott, a player-director on the PGA Tour's Player Advisory Council, has offered insights into the negotiations. He acknowledges the challenges of unifying the two products, given their distinct models and approaches. Scott emphasizes the PGA Tour's careful approach to balancing the interests of all stakeholders, including fans, media, and players. While there is a sense of urgency for a resolution, the PGA Tour is committed to moving forward and capitalizing on its recent successes, with or without a deal with LIV Golf.
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Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030
In line with Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has also invested in its entertainment and tourism sectors. The country lifted a 35-year ban on movie theatres, with the first new theatre opening in Riyadh in 2018. It has also hosted large-scale events such as the Riyadh Season festival, which included various concerts, entertainment attractions, and cultural pavilions. Additionally, Saudi Arabia has partnered with international sports organizations, such as World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), to hold annual pay-per-view events, including the first women's professional wrestling match in the country.
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), established in 1971, has been a key driver of Vision 2030. With headquarters in Riyadh and offices worldwide, the fund has fuelled ambitious "giga projects" and tourism initiatives. The PIF is led by Governor Yasir al-Rumayyan, a former banker and close confidant of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who chairs the fund's board.
The PIF has come under scrutiny for its aggressive investments and acquisitions in global sports, including golf. The fund has been accused of using these ventures to bolster the kingdom's global influence and soft power. This includes the creation of LIV Golf, which has hosted tournaments at Trump's Doral resort and attracted top golfers with substantial payouts. The potential merger between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour has raised concerns about conflicts of interest and governance in sports.
Overall, Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 outlines a strategy for economic diversification, technological advancement, and infrastructure development. Through initiatives in entertainment, tourism, and sports, the kingdom seeks to enhance its global influence while also stimulating economic growth and attracting foreign investment.
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Golf Saudi
In addition to Golf Saudi, the PIF has also been involved in other sports ventures, including the acquisition of top-tier soccer clubs like Newcastle United and investments in boxing, esports, and golf tournaments like LIV Golf.
LIV Golf, financed by the PIF, has been described as a form of sportswashing by human rights groups, who argue that it is a political strategy by Saudi Arabia to cleanse its repressive global image through sports. Despite the criticism, LIV Golf has awarded the best golf event in the world in 2023 and 2024 at the World Golf Awards.
To further promote golf in the kingdom, Golf Saudi has launched the first Saudi Golf application, which allows users to book tee times and access exclusive offers easily.
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Frequently asked questions
LIV Golf is a Saudi government-backed golf tour financed by Saudi Arabia's $700 billion Public Investment Fund (PIF).
LIV lured players away from the PGA Tour by guaranteeing payouts of $100 million or more.
The two entities have agreed to merge their forces, along with the smaller DP World Tour, to "unify" professional golf under one organizational umbrella.
Saudi Arabia's involvement in golf is part of a broader strategy to bolster the kingdom's entertainment and tourism offerings and exploit sports as a diplomatic and economic tool.
The reaction has been mixed. Some view it as a way to sportswash Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses, while others see it as a positive development for the sport.
