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A16 sports
Wednesday 8 June 2022
Golfers put aside ‘reprehensible’ Saudi moves to join series

By ROB HARRIS How, though, McDowell
AP Sports Writer was asked, is that journey
ST. ALBANS, England (AP) — helping women who are
The stars of the new Saudi- oppressed in Saudi Ara-
funded golf league tried to bia, the LGBTQ individuals
fend off concerns on Tues- whose rights to live freely
day about human rights are criminalized, the mi-
abuses and signing up to grant workers whose rights
accept hundreds of millions are violated, the victims of
of dollars despite the risk of the Saudi-led bombing of
being banned from long- Yemen, or the 81 men who
standing events. were executed by the king-
After announcing he quit dom in March?
the PGA Tour to join the LIV “I wish I had the ability to be
Golf series, Dustin Johnson able to have that conver-
evaded questioning about sation with you,” McDowell
the source of the $25 million said. “As golfers, if we tried
prize fund for each event to cure geopolitical situa-
flowing from Saudi Arabia’s tions in every country in the
sovereign wealth fund. The world that we play golf in,
first LIV Golf Invitational is we wouldn’t play a lot of
taking place outside Lon- golf. It’s a really hard ques-
don from Thursday. Graeme McDowell, of Northern Ireland, reacts after missing a putt on the 18th green during the tion to answer.
Another former major win- second round of the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament, Friday, April 22, 2022, at TPC Louisiana “We’re just here to focus on
ner — Graeme McDowell in Avondale, La. Associated Press the golf and kind of what
— was left at a news con- it does globally for the role
ference trying to publicly he accepts is “incredibly lars in sign-on fees and prize “We are not politicians. I models that these guys
reconcile causing fractures polarizing” for the sport. money that is enticing play- know you guys hate that are.”
in golf by signing for the “Take the Khashoggi situ- ers away from the estab- expression, but we are re- McDowell did most of the
rebel series that appears to ation,” he said. “We all lished tours and jeopardiz- ally not, unfortunately. We talking on Saudi rights is-
be part of Saudi Arabia’s agree that’s reprehensible. ing their participation in the are professional golfers. sues, with two-time major
attempt to reshape its im- Nobody is going to argue majors and Ryder Cup. “If Saudi Arabia wanted winner Johnson respond-
age as a backer of lavish that fact.” Human rights groups de- to use the game of golf as ing earlier: “I would pretty
sports events rather than U.S. intelligence services scribe Saudi Arabia’s ef- a way for them to get to much say the exact same
one associated with hu- said they believe the kill- forts as “sportswashing” its where they want to be and thing. I’d agree with what
man rights abuses. ing of the U.S.-based Saudi image. they have the resources Graeme said.”
The Northern Irish golfer, journalist came at the or- McDowell tried to avoid to accelerate that experi- The series is being overseen
who won the U.S. Open ders of the crown prince, discussing the specifics of ence, I think we are proud by Greg Norman with 54-
and Ryder Cup in 2010, did Mohammed bin Salman, the country he is effectively to help them on that jour- hole tournaments and a
bring up the 2018 murder who heads the Public In- working for. ney using the game of golf shotgun start that sees ev-
of Jamal Khashoggi in the vestment Fund. The prince “I really feel like golf is a and the abilities that we ery group start at the same
Saudi consulate in Istan- denies wrongdoing. force of good in the world have to help grow the sport time on different holes. The
bul as a legitimate area of The fund is providing the — I just try to be a great and take them to where winner gets $4 million, while
concern of joining a series hundreds of millions of dol- role model to kids,” he said. they want to be.” last place gets $120,000.q

Los Angeles Sparks fire coach and GM

Derek Fisher

a year later. He finished his wealth of experience lead- ship, staff, players, and fans
career with a 54-46 record ing WNBA teams.” for the opportunity they
as coach. The Sparks missed the play- have afforded me over the
Assistant Fred Williams will offs last season for the first last four years as a part of
take over as interim head time since 2011 and bol- this historic franchise,” Fish-
coach. stered their roster by add- er said.
“After a thorough evalu- ing All-Star Liz Cambage “Their support has allowed
ation of the state of our in the offseason. They had me to grow as both a
team, the Sparks and GM/ a difficult schedule to start coach and front office ex-
Head Coach Derek Fisher the season with nine of their ecutive and I am proud
have agreed to part ways,” first 12 games on the road of what we have accom-
managing partner Eric Ho- and are 5-7. plished.”
loman said. “On behalf Fisher won five titles while “The Sparks and I have mu-
of our ownership group, I playing with the Lakers and tually agreed to part ways
Los Angeles Sparks coach Derek Fisher watches the team want to thank Derek for his had served as coach of as I shift my focus back to
play the Minnesota Lynx during the fourth quarter of a WNBA efforts and contributions to the Knicks before he took pursuing other opportuni-
basketball game Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, in Minneapolis. the Sparks franchise. We over as the Sparks coach. ties and private endeav-
Associated Press wish him the best moving The Sparks won one playoff ors,” Fisher added. “It has
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The the team announced Tues- forward. I have full confi- game in Fisher’s tenure in been an amazing ride and
Los Angeles Sparks have day. dence in Fred Williams to Los Angeles. I wish the entire LA sparks
fired head coach and gen- Fisher took over the team in step into the role of interim “I want to thank the LA organization great success
eral manager Derek Fisher 2019 and became the GM head coach, bringing a Sparks organization, owner- moving forward.”q