Senate launches probe into merger of Saudi-backed LIV Golf, PGA Tour

PGA golfer Dylan Wu joined 'America's Newsroom' to discuss why many golfers are still shocked by the merger and why he believes many players are 'shut out from what's happening.'

The Senate is launching an investigation into the controversial partnership between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., chairman of the Senate Select Subcommittee on Investigations, sent a letter to LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman on Monday demanding records of communications, disputes and merger details dating back to October 2021, when LIV was launched.

PGA officials announced last week that their organization would create a "newly-formed commercial entity to unify golf" along with the Public Investment Fund (PIF), which owns LIV. The PIF is the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia, controlled by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. 

GOLFERS WHO TURNED DOWN LIV, STAYED WITH PGA TOUR COULD GET EQUITY IN NEW VENTURE

The Trump National Golf Club is the setting for the LIV Golf Invitational - Bedminster on July 26, 2022 in Bedminster, New Jersey. (Mike Stobe/LIV Golf/via Getty Images)

LIV has been under intense scrutiny since its inception as critics dismiss it as a high-dollar front for Saudi Arabia to "sportswash" its reputation for human rights abuses. 

"While few details about the agreement are known, PIF’s role as an arm of the Saudi government and PGA Tour’s sudden and drastic reversal of position concerning LIV Golf raise serious questions regarding the reasons for and terms behind the announced agreement," Blumenthal wrote in the letter. "Accordingly, I write to request documents and information related to this agreement."

PGA COMMISSIONER JAY MONAHAN SAID TOUR COULDN'T COMPETE WITH SAUDI FUNDS, WHICH LED TO LIV