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A32 sports
Diaranson 8 Juni 2022

Golfers put aside ‘reprehensible’ Saudi moves to join series

By ROB HARRIS consulate in Istanbul as a le- use the game of golf as a way with what Graeme said.”
AP Sports Writer gitimate area of concern of for them to get to where they The series is being over-
ST. ALBANS, England joining a series he accepts is want to be and they have the seen by Greg Norman with
(AP) — The stars of the “incredibly polarizing” for resources to accelerate that 54-hole tournaments and a
new Saudi-funded golf the sport. experience, I think we are shotgun start that sees every
league tried to fend off “Take the Khashoggi situa- proud to help them on that group start at the same time
concerns on Tuesday tion,” he said. “We all agree journey using the game of on different holes. The win-
about human rights abus- that’s reprehensible. Nobody golf and the abilities that we ner gets $4 million, while last
es and signing up to ac- is going to argue that fact.” have to help grow the sport place gets $120,000.
cept hundreds of millions U.S. intelligence services said and take them to where they The golfers are taking more
of dollars despite the risk they believe the killing of the want to be.” heat than some other athletes
of being banned from U.S.-based Saudi journal- How, though, McDowell was who have competed in Saudi
long-standing events. ist came at the orders of the asked, is that journey helping Arabia. While sports, includ-
crown prince, Mohammed women who are oppressed ing golf, soccer and Formula
After announcing he quit the bin Salman, who heads the in Saudi Arabia, the LGBTQ One, have chosen to take
PGA Tour to join the LIV Public Investment Fund. The individuals whose rights to events to Saudi Arabia with-
Golf series, Dustin Johnson prince denies wrongdoing. live freely are criminalized, out the stars having a say, LIV
evaded questioning about The fund is providing the the migrant workers whose is a case of the players opting
the source of the $25 mil- hundreds of millions of dol- rights are violated, the vic- out of existing structures to
lion prize fund for each event lars in sign-on fees and prize tims of the Saudi-led bomb- go all-in on the kingdom’s
flowing from Saudi Arabia’s money that is enticing play- ing of Yemen, or the 81 men project. Tiger Woods and
sovereign wealth fund. The ers away from the established who were executed by the Rory McIlroy are among the
first LIV Golf Invitational is tours and jeopardizing their kingdom in March? players to reject an approach
taking place outside London participation in the majors “I wish I had the ability to be from LIV.
from Thursday. and Ryder Cup. able to have that conversation
Another former major win- with you,” McDowell said. “An opportunity like this
ner — Graeme McDowell — Human rights groups de- “As golfers, if we tried to cure comes along,” the 42-year-
was left at a news conference scribe Saudi Arabia’s efforts geopolitical situations in ev- old McDowell said, “where
trying to publicly reconcile as “sportswashing” its image. ery country in the world that you can play the last three or
causing fractures in golf by McDowell tried to avoid we play golf in, we wouldn’t four years of your career, in a
signing for the rebel series discussing the specifics of play a lot of golf. It’s a really very financially lucrative en-
that appears to be part of Sau- the country he is effectively hard question to answer. vironment. It would be crazy
di Arabia’s attempt to reshape working for. “We’re just here to focus on to walk away from that as a dia had the opportunity.
its image as a backer of lavish “I really feel like golf is a force the golf and kind of what it businessman.” Fleischer was asked about a
sports events rather than one of good in the world — I just does globally for the role Ari Fleischer, a former White tweet he posted in 2011 that
associated with human rights try to be a great role model models that these guys are.” House press secretary in talked about Saudi Arabia
abuses. to kids,” he said. “We are not McDowell did most of the George W. Bush’s presidency, and implied that the king
The Northern Irish golfer, politicians. I know you guys talking on Saudi rights issues, was the tournament orga- was willing to “spend hun-
who won the U.S. Open hate that expression, but we with two-time major winner nizer’s host of the two news dreds of billions so he won’t
and Ryder Cup in 2010, did are really not, unfortunately. Johnson responding earlier: conferences involving players be overthrown.” He said that
bring up the 2018 murder of We are professional golfers. “I would pretty much say the Tuesday. He posed questions comment was made “a long,
Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi “If Saudi Arabia wanted to exact same thing. I’d agree to the golfers before the me- long time ago.”

Los Angeles Sparks fire coach and GM Derek Fisher

LOS ANGELES (AP) — season with nine of their first
The Los Angeles Sparks 12 games on the road and are
have fired head coach 5-7.
and general manager Fisher won five titles while
Derek Fisher the team an- playing with the Lakers and
nounced Tuesday. had served as coach of the
Fisher took over the team Knicks before he took over
in 2019 and became the as the Sparks coach. The
GM a year later. He fin- Sparks won one playoff game
ished his career with a 54- in Fisher’s tenure in Los An-
46 record as coach. geles.
“I want to thank the LA
Assistant Fred Williams will Sparks organization, owner-
take over as interim head ship, staff, players, and fans
coach. for the opportunity they have
“After a thorough evaluation afforded me over the last four
of the state of our team, the years as a part of this his-
Sparks and GM/Head Coach toric franchise,” Fisher said.
Derek Fisher have agreed to “Their support has allowed
part ways,” managing partner me to grow as both a coach
Eric Holoman said. “On be- and front office executive and
half of our ownership group, I am proud of what we have
I want to thank Derek for his accomplished.”
efforts and contributions to “The Sparks and I have mu-
the Sparks franchise. We wish tually agreed to part ways as I
him the best moving forward. shift my focus back to pursu-
I have full confidence in Fred ing other opportunities and
Williams to step into the role private endeavors,” Fisher
of interim head coach, bring- added. “It has been an amaz-
ing a wealth of experience ing ride and I wish the entire
leading WNBA teams.” offs last season for the first stered their roster by adding offseason. They had a dif- LA sparks organization great
The Sparks missed the play- time since 2011 and bol- All-Star Liz Cambage in the ficult schedule to start the success moving forward.”