Players taking Saudi money for weak events is a bad look for golf

Despite Lee Westwood’s claims, golfers have not been singled out for special attention during dalliances with Saudi Arabia. In fact the ease with which the Saudis have breezed into the golf scene – both male and female – serves as a reminder of the charmed life players lead. What a rude awakening they – and their representatives – would encounter if they had the levels of focus bestowed on Premier League clubs.

Westwood is candid about participating in the upcoming LIV Golf Series on the basis of chasing money. As a cost of living crisis impacts upon the ability of millions to heat their homes or put fuel in their cars, the relish of Westwood – hardly a pauper – for a $25m golf tournament in Hertfordshire is pretty distasteful but not a patch on an extended defence of his actions.

“They [Saudi Arabia] are trying to make changes quickly, and that’s probably worrying a lot of people and scaring a lot of people,” Westwood said. On 12 March this year, the Kingdom carried out the execution of 81 people. That feels considerably more scary than the rapid pace of modernisation Westwood perceives. A spokesperson for UPS, a longtime sponsor of Westwood, hardly delivered a ringing endorsement when asked what the firm thinks of high-profile athletes gleefully accepting Saudi swag. “We are constantly evaluating our sponsorship and partnership decisions and will continue to monitor this situation,” they said.

As Greg Norman, the public face of Saudi’s golf exploits, carries out media duties with hand-picked outlets this week, there is further cause to ponder the absurdity of the entire scheme. Norman announced a $2bn boost to something that made no commercial sense in the first place. The Australian stated he did not answer to