Golf World Tees Up for Battle in Court Between PGA Tour, Saudi-Backed Series

A recently launched golf series backed by Saudi Arabia has the men’s professional golf world in an uproar. The new LIV Golf International Series, helmed by retired golf legend Greg Norman, awarded the biggest total purse in golf history at its first event in London in June, with $4 million going to the winner. Multiple elite pro golfers have opted to play in the lucrative LIV events. But other top players are calling out LIV Tour participants, citing Saudi Arabia’s numerous alleged human rights violations and habit of “sportswashing” to improve its image.

In this Chicago Daily Law Bulletin article written by Loeb Advanced Media & Technology partners Douglas Masters and Seth Rose, the authors examine recent controversy surrounding the LIV Golf tour and Saudi Arabia’s investments in popular athletic events and organizations. Although some big names have signed on for the LIV Golf Invitational, LIV Golf and its affiliated athletes have continued to receive backlash from human rights groups, corporations and the PGA Tour.