Graeme McDowell says he's HAPPY for golf to be used for sportswashing
‘The Khashoggi situation was reprehensible… but we are proud to help Saudi to get where they want to be’: US Open winner Graeme McDowell says he’s HAPPY for golf to be used for sportswashing on the rebel tour
- Irish golfer Graeme McDowell has said that he is ‘proud’ to help Saudi Arabia
- But he described the murder of Jamal Khashoggi back in 2018 as ‘reprehensible’
- McDowell, 42, is one of the biggest names to have pulled out of the PGA Tour
- He defended his decision to play in the series as he is just there ‘to focus on golf’
Irish golfer Graeme McDowell has said that he is ‘proud’ to help Saudi Arabia on their current ‘journey’ despite the ‘reprehensible’ murder of Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.
McDowell has become one of the biggest names to have pulled out of the PGA Tour to join the controversial Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series.
The 42-year-old defended his decision to play in the break-away series, claiming he is just there ‘to focus on golf’ and help the sport ‘grow around the world’.
Graeme McDowell has said that he is ‘proud’ to help Saudi Arabia on their current ‘journey’
McDowell was asked about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and sportswashing on Tuesday afternoon.
Reporters broached the topic during a press conference head of the inaugural LIV Golf event at Centurion Club – which is financially backed by the country’s sovereign wealth fund, the PIF.
During his reply, McDowell referenced Khashoggi’s murder – calling the indecent in 2018 ‘reprehensible’.
Jamal Khashoggi (above) was assassinated at the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul in 2018
McDowell has described the murder of Jamal Khashoggi back in 2018 as ‘reprehensible’
Khashoggi was assassinated at the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul after criticising his country’s government, and a UN special rapporteur and the CIA have since claimed Saudi crown prince Mohammad Bin Salman gave the orders for the killing.
WHAT IS SPORTSWASHING?
The term ‘sportswashing’ is the practice of using sport as a propaganda tool to improve the reputation of a nation, company or individual.
Nations with poor human rights records will often look to host major international sporting events with the hope it will gloss over their treatment of minorities and raise their diplomatic standing in the world.
Sportswashing also happens when companies or individuals with shady pasts sponsor sporting teams or events to win favour in their community or with government.
Speaking about the subject, McDowell said: ‘I mean, this has been incredibly polarising. I think we all agree, the Khashoggi situation, that was reprehensible. No one is going to argue that fact.
‘But we are golfers and speaking personally, I really think golf is a force of good in the world. I just try to be a great role model to kids.
‘I know what the game of golf has taught me. I like using the game of golf to help is grow around the world.
‘That’s pretty much what we have done for the last 20 years. Be role model’s to kids and try to use this game as a force of good.
‘We are not politicians and I know you guys hate that expression but we’re really not unfortunately. We are professional golfers.
‘If Saudi Arabia want to use the game of golf as way to get to where they want to be and they have the resources to be able to accelerate that experience then we are proud help them on that journey using the game of golf and the abilities we have.’
When asked specifically about how golf is going to help repressed groups in Saudi Arabia, McDowell said: ‘I wish I had the ability to be able to have that conversation with you.
‘I think as golfer’s, if we tried to cure geopolitical situations in every country in the world we play golf in, we wouldn’t play a lot of golf.
‘It’s a really hard question to answer. We are just here to focus on the golf. It’s a really hard question to get into.’
McDowell is not the only player to have chosen to jump ship from the PGA Tour in favour of the massively lucrative and controversial new competition.
Dustin Johnson confirmed on Tuesday morning that he had resigned from the PGA Tour to compete in the Saudi-funded LIV Golf Invitational Series.
‘Obviously at this time it’s hard to speak on what the consequences will be, but for right now, I’ve resigned my membership from the PGA Tour,’ Johnson said.
‘I’m going to play here for now, and that’s the plan. What the consequences are going to be, I can’t comment on how the tour is going to handle it.
‘Majors, again I can’t answer for them, but hopefully they are going to allow us to play. Obviously I’m exempt for the majors so I plan on playing there unless I hear otherwise.
Dustin Johnson (two from left) also confirmed on Tuesday morning that he had resigned from the PGA Tour to compete in the Saudi-funded LIV Golf Invitational Series
‘It was [a difficult decision to resign knowing it would make him ineligible for the Ryder Cup], but hopefully all things are subject to change and at some point it’ll change and we’ll be able to participate.
‘If it doesn’t, it was another thing I had to think long and hard about, and ultimately I decided to come do this and play out here.
‘The Ryder Cup is unbelievable and something that has definitely meant a lot to me, and I’m proud to say that I’ve played and represented my country, and hopefully I’ll get a chance to do that again, but I don’t make the rules.
‘I chose what’s best for me and my family.’
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