Golfer Colin Montgomerie has "called on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour to 'fight off' the threat of a Saudi-backed Asian Tour and avoid a ‘seismic shift’ in golf,” according to the BBC. The Asian Tour “has been boosted” by a $200M investment from the Saudi Arabia government's Private Investment Fund. There are fears this could “lead to a Super League in the men's game.” On the situation, Montgomerie said, "It's a shame it's come to this. We used to work well with the Asian Tour and now we are at loggerheads because of money ... It's a problematic issue. It's that horrible, evil word, money. The mighty dollar ruling people's hearts and minds." He added, "Let's hope the European Tour is closer to the PGA Tour than we've ever been before and we can fight it off." Greg Norman's LIV Golf Investments is funding 10 new Asian Tour events to be “staged annually over the next 10 years.” Montgomerie: "You can guarantee Greg Norman is going to be there and the Saudi hierarchy is going to be there, trying to get as many top players as possible.” He also said the $40M Player Impact Fund, brought in by the PGA Tour to reward popularity over success, “was another example of the PGA Tour ‘trying to keep their top players.’” Montgomerie: "That money could have been used to promote the women's game. ... But they know this problem is coming from Saudi and they need to sustain what they have” (BBC, 1/27).
Monty calls on golf tours to fight off Norman's Saudi-backed startup
