DORAL, FLA. (WSVN) - The LIV Golf Tournament held a news conference on Wednesday, ahead of this weekend’s events, but there was no mention of the controversy surrounding the tournament which is being held at former president Donald Trump’s Doral golf course.
9/11 Justice, an advocacy group comprised of 9/11 family members and survivors, took out an ad in Florida ahead of the tournament.
Many people have criticized the tournament because it is funded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund, who have been accused of numerous human rights violations. Critics also said Saudi officials supported the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Several questions surround the ties to the man who U.S. intelligence said was responsible for the murder of Washington Post journalist, Jamal Khashoggi.
“We have proof, it was Operation Encore, which was started after the 9/11 Commission was disbanded,” said Sean Passananti, whose father was killed on 9/11, “and they specifically looked into Saudi government involvement, and we have multiple officials communicating, supporting from the first two hijacks– jackers that were on American soil from the day they got here.”
This group already held a tournament in New Jersey in July, where 9/11 families protested; they were upset because Trump promised to declassify documents that showed the Saudi’s involvement in the terrorist attack, but he never did.
Passananti’s father was on the 100th floor of the north tower when he was killed.
“The issue for me is with the Saudi Arabian government and getting away with murdering our loved ones 21 years ago, and now having a golf tournament is just salt on the wound, obviously, because we haven’t been able to hold them accountable,” he said.
Trump has since responded to the criticism and told an ESPN reporter back in July, “No one has gotten to the bottom of 9/11, unfortunately.”
This tournament is huge for golfers including Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson and Sergio Garcia because of its $50 million purse.
Some of the athletes spoke about the tournament but did not mention the controversy involving Saudi funding.
“My father, the last time I saw him, we actually played a round of golf together and instead of going to support this Saudi sports washing event, you know, take your father out for a round of golf, because that’s something that I’m not able to do,” said Passananti.
Golfers playing in this series are not allowed to play in the PGA tournament, which led to another issue of contention with Trump.
The PGA pulled from his Bedminster course following the Jan. 6 Capitol riots.
Trump is expected to be in Doral on Thursday, along with protesters from the 9/11 Families United and other organizations.
The competition starts on Friday.
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