Today, Explained

How the Saudis bought pro golf

Jun 15, 2023

Rick Maese, a sports reporter for The Washington Post, and Jonathan Guyer, a senior foreign policy writer at Vox, dive into the controversial merger of the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, funded by Saudi Arabia. They discuss how Saudi investments are reshaping professional golf while raising ethical dilemmas and concerns about human rights. The conversation explores the broader geopolitical implications of such moves, highlighting the delicate balance between financial gains and moral responsibilities in sports.

26:14

Episode guests

Jonathan Guyer

Rick Maese

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

3min

The Rise and Controversy of LIV Golf

11min

The Stakes of Saudi Arabia's Influence in Golf

2min

Saudi Investments: Sports, Politics, and Human Rights

8min

The Intersection of Sports and Geopolitics: A Cautionary Tale

3min

The PGA Tour wanted nothing to do with a rival Saudi-funded golf tour, but like Silicon Valley and the White House, it couldn’t resist the Kingdom’s influence. A sports guy (Rick Maese of the Washington Post) and a foreign policy guy (Jonathan Guyer of Vox) explain.

This episode was produced by Haleema Shah, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Michael Raphael, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained

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