LIV Golf has been the focus of much of the commentary. It is not a traditional tour, it’s not a routine schedule, 72 holes, regular tee times, and it doesn’t require good play for good money. It was only with the third tournament this week that LIV Golf’s true nature was revealed. Donald J. Trump embraced the baby-carrot fingers of LIV to reveal its true character.
LIV’s Trump National G.C. event Families of victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks were greeted in Bedminster, N.J. with dignified outrage. They referred to a U.S. intelligence document that was declassified in 2021, which suggested Saudi connections to the atrocity. It revealed that Saudi funding of Al-Qaeda was a major factor in the spawning of 15 hijackers. This report also included government officials from the Kingdom who were involved in aiding terrorists on American soil. The former president said that no one has reached the bottom of 9/11.
Trump’s lack of honor was exposed in the comment, but it also highlighted why LIV Golf is so well suited for him. There are many parallels between them that are both unflattering and plentiful.
Begin with the art and craft of obfuscation. This is a practiced at every LIV Press Conference as executives and players evade questions about ongoing abuses by their benefactors. Trump’s absolving Saudi Arabia of the responsibility for nearly 3,000 Americans’ deaths is akin to their evasions on human right issues and the dismemberment with a bonesaw of a regime critic. The Crown Prince’s pay requires that all those who are part of his payroll must downplay, deflect and dissemble, but never denounce.
Protecting the grift is another important aspect. This ensures that other people’s money remains unimpeded. LIV and Trump Inc. both take MBS to fool them. Trump is paid fees to host tournaments. His son-in law, Jared Kushner received $2 billion from the Saudi government’s Public Investment Fund for his private equity company, despite objections from Fund advisors about the merits. Trump and Kushner were able to provide air cover for the regime after Jamal Khashoggi’s murder. It is more difficult to account for the enormous Fund payments to opulent golfers.
This leads to the inevitable hornswoggle. The suckling of the credulous is accompanied by talk of a new product that seems more like a revenue play for men whose liquidity cannot finance their narcissism. Trump and LIV Golf’s CEO Greg Norman have their names attached to everything, from steaks to airlines. You must have a new product to pitch investors if you want to convince them to fund your reckless self-image. Their means to this end is golf.
Both men can use personal grievances to fuel their professional careers.
Trump’s list of perceived injustices goes longer than the Beijing phone directory and includes the PGA Tour (for leaving Doral Resort in 2016, the PGA of America (for moving the 2022 PGA Championship from New Jersey to Oklahoma after the January 6 sacking of Capitol), and R&A (for refusing to return the Open to Turnberry, while his name is still above the door).
Norman’s long-standing resentment towards the Tour dates back decades. His resentment is quickly expanding to include other venues he doesn’t like about his new Saudi-funded venture. LIV is not immune to any petty grievances. That has empowered its players to voice their dismay at the cruel exploitation they suffered, such as Phil Mickelson’s media rights and Sergio Garcia’s penalty drops.
One side effect of being near Trump and LIV is reputational destruction. Many a man’s reputation has been tarnished by his association with 45. Now golfers can watch their hard-earned reputation being eroded not by the money grab, but by the disingenuous equivocations that are part of the job requirements when working for the Saudis. Paul Casey was once a respected UNICEF ambassador, but he refused to compete in Saudi Arabia. He was muted when asked about abuses committed by the check-cashed owners. Next: Bubba Watson. He has two children, and is an avid advocate for the cause. However, he will eventually have to reconcile his passion with working in a state that cruelly makes adoption illegal.
LIV Golf was able to demonstrate that Trump has mastered the art of theater. It presents a mask to dissatisfied people, promising disruption and reform, but is unable to deliver.
Norman once said, “Our success is directly related to knowing how market a brand” in his corporate-speak. The people he assembled this week could not have been more suitable to represent LIV. It was almost enough for one to pity the Crown Prince, whose purse is being chiseled daily by all of them. Almost.
By: Eamon Lynch
Title: Lynch: The marriage of LIV Golf and Donald Trump is the stuff schemes are made of
Sourced From: golfweek.usatoday.com/2022/07/30/eamon-lynch-liv-golf-donald-trump-greg-norman-bedminster/
Published Date: Sat, 30 Jul 2022 14:51:26 +0000
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