9/11 Families United ‘betrayed’ after PGA Tour to ‘Saudi shills’ via merger with LIV Tour

It was just about nine months ago when PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan he said he did not anticipate a truce with LIV Golf.

But on Tuesday the two tours merged into one in the first merger of North American sports leagues since the NFL and AFL.

The internet was quick to point out Monahan’s hypocrisy, as the announcement came nearly a year after the day Monahan praised PGA morals and blew LIV Golfsupported by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia.

Now, 9/11 Families United echoes the sentiments of most people.

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PGA Tour logo at the Farmers Insurance Open

The PGA Tour logo is displayed during the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines South on January 29, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Ben Jared/PGA Tour via Getty Images)

“9/11 Families United is shocked and deeply offended by the announced merger between the PGA Tour and the LIV Golf League which is funded by billions of money laundering the sport from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Saudi agents have played a role in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and now it’s funding all of pro golf,” the organization said in a statement.

“PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan co-opted the 9/11 community last year into the PGA’s unequivocal agreement that the Saudi LIV project was nothing more than a sporting scrub on Saudi Arabia’s reputation. But now the PGA and Monahan they seem to have only gotten higher paid Saudi shills, taking billions of dollars to clean up Saudi reputations so that Americans and the world forget how the Kingdom spent their billions of dollars before 9/11 to fund terrorism, spread their vitriolic hatred for Americans and funding al Qaeda and the assassination of our loved ones,” said Terry Strada, president of 9/11 Families United, whose husband Tom died in the north tower of the World Trade Center. “Make no mistake, we will never forget.

Monahan spoke last summer about knowing people who lost loved ones on 9/11, then wondered aloud on national television if LIV Golfers ever had to apologize for being a member of the PGA Tour. They do now – like him. PGA Tour leaders should be ashamed of their hypocrisy and greed. Our entire 9/11 community has been betrayed by Commissioner Monahan and the PGA as it seems their concern for our loved ones was just a facade in the their quest for money: honoring the great game of golf has never been like this.”

PGA Tour Championship

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan speaks during a press conference before the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club on August 24, 2022 in Atlanta. (Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)

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Strada was referencing a resurfaced video of Monahan being interviewed by CBS’ Jim Nantz on June 12, 2022, at the RBC Canadian Open, where Nantz asked the commissioner how much he talked to PGA Tour members about the ramifications if they joined LIV, citing 9/11 the families are against the Saudi backed league.

“Well, I’ve talked to players, I’ve spoken at a player meeting and I’ve talked to a number of players individually over a long period of time. And I think you’d have to live under a rock not to know that.” There are significant implications. And as far as 9/11 families go, I have two families close to me who lost loved ones. So my heart goes out to them. And I’d ask any player who’s walked out or any “player who would ever consider leaving: Have you ever had to apologize for being a member of the PGA Tour?”

The families of 9/11 bloody golfers LIV for accepting money from the LIV, funded by the Public Investment Fund.

However, despite many PGA superstars sticking to their tour, Monahan not only merged with the then-PGA rival, he said in a memo to his players that the Public Investment Fund, which funded the LIV , will be “by contributing…a significant financial investment“in the deal.

Jay Monahan The players' press conference

Jay Monahan speaks to the media before the Players Championship on March 7, 2023 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

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The deal will end all pending litigation between the three circuits and allow players who have left their respective tours to re-apply for membership after the 2023 season.

Paulina Dedaj of Fox News contributed to this report.