A prominent 9\/11 group is speaking out after the PGA Tour announced its merger with Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
9\/11 Families United released a statement slamming the PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan for partnering with the Saudi-backed entity, noting that Saudi operatives played a role in facilitating the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPGA Commissioner Jay Monahan co-opted the 9\/11 community last year in the PGA\u2019s unequivocal agreement that the Saudi LIV project was nothing more than sportswashing of Saudi Arabia\u2019s reputation,\u201d said 9\/11 Families United Chair Terry Strada, whose husband Tom died in the World Trade Center\u2019s North Tower. \u201cBut now the PGA and Monahan appear to have become just more paid Saudi shills, taking billions of dollars to cleanse the Saudi reputation so that Americans and the world will forget how the Kingdom spent their billions of dollars before 9\/11 to fund terrorism, spread their vitriolic hatred of Americans, and finance al Qaeda and the murder of our loved ones.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMake no mistake \u2013 we will never forget, \u201cthe statement continued. \u201cMr. Monahan talked last summer about knowing people who lost loved ones on 9\/11, then wondered aloud on national television whether LIV Golfers ever had to apologize for being a member of the PGA Tour. They do now as does he. 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 appears their concern for our loved ones was merely window-dressing in their quest for money \u2013 it was never to honor the great game of golf.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n