Padraig Harrington took to Twitter on Tuesday evening to post a remarkable statement reacting to the PGA Tour and LIV Golf merger citing that Ireland ‘locked up unmarried mothers as late as 1996.’
Controversy over Saudi backing has been rife since news of the jaw dropping deal emerged with PGA Tour players left in the dark over the sensational news.
Harrington has always thought that the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf would co-exist but news of the merger shocked the golfing world and the sporting landscape as a whole as the Saudi Kingdom effectively bought golf.
The three-time major champion acknowledged the element of sportswashing on Twitter but also appeared to approve of certain elements of the deal.
“Surprised that this merger has happened so quickly but not surprised it’s happened,” Harrington wrote.
“Definitely in the financial interest of both sides. Definitely in the financial interest of the players even though some of those who gain will feel like they’re losing. Good for the cohesion of global golf.”
The Dubliner was swamped with reactionary tweets and comments before coming out with a more controversial statement that made it onto television news programmes in Ireland on Tuesday night.
“Looking at some of the replies, I’m trying to explain why this has happened. It’s hard to overcome the financial/ business side of life when you are representing a group with many different backgrounds and morals.
“My own country sells military technology to Saudi Arabia,” he claimed.
“So many other compromises.
“Yes this is sports washing and yes unfortunately it proves sports washing works.
“But maybe one positive, inclusion and trade has shown to improve and change countries involved for the better. My own country thought it was acceptable to lock up unmarried mothers as late as 1996.”
Golf has been blown into turmoil with many PGA Tour players slamming the deal ahead of a players meeting that took place last night ahead of the RBC Canadian Open where Jay Monahan and Rory McIlroy were present.
Much of the backlash surrounds the Saudi involvement and that the merger agreement ends all pending litigation between the participating parties but Harrington sees it as a win, win for the PGA Tour.
“Again without knowing the facts, it seems the PGA Tour acted quickly. The tour was obviously under pressure delivering on its tv contracts with losing some of it’s marquee players to the new entity LIV Golf League.
“The tour by acting early, while they still have the upper hand, will end up with the controlling share in world golf.”
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