The boss of European golf has apologised to families of 9/11 victims after holding talks with LIV Golf’s Saudi Arabian backers in New York City, on the 23rd anniversary of the attacks.
On September 11, 2001, the terrorist attacks killed 2,977 people and injured thousands at the World Trade Centre, the Pentagon, and in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
DP World Tour chief Guy Kinnings has been in negotiations with the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund – the owners of LIV Golf and Newcastle – to find a peace deal going forward. Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group were also said to be involved after investing in the PGA Tour.
However the timings of the talks infuriated the families of the victims, with 9/11 Justice president Brett Eagleson – who lost his father John in the attacks – calling those involved ‘completely tone deaf’.
When told that timings of the talks ‘doesn’t look good,’ Kinnings, as per the Mirror, replied: ‘No, absolutely right. The point is that, unfortunately, we didn’t set the time frame and we didn’t set the agenda.
DP World Tour chief Guy Kinnings has apologised to families of 9/11 victims after big-money talks involving Saudi-backed LIV Golf in New York City last week on the 23rd anniversary
Big-money peace talks are ongoing between the DP Tour, PGA Tour and LIV Golf (Saudi Public Investment Fund governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan pictured)
The talks in New York began on September 10 and were expected to span for a number of days
‘From my perspective, I have only the absolute deepest sympathy and empathy for those families.
‘We were called to a meeting which, I don’t think we spotted the dates, and we were trying to do the best thing for the game of golf. But there is a bigger picture for the families. I was there, I watched a number of the ceremonies, and all you feel is sympathy and empathy for the families.
‘There was no intent in the meeting to show any disrespect – I don’t think it was intentional at all. The intention was to do the right thing for the sport but if anyone felt upset by that, then of course I apologise to them because I only feel deepest sympathy to those people.’
Fifteen of the 19 hijackers in 2021 were Saudi citizens through the country’s government has always strongly denied any involvement in the attacks.
9/11 Justice have long accused Saudi Arabia of aiding the terrorists who carried out the attacks and have been frequent critics of LIV Golf.
The talks in New York began on Tuesday, September 10, and were expected to span several days.
Eagleson previously hit out at superstar player Tiger Woods and those who attended the meeting.
The 9/11 Justice president, who was 15 when he lost his father in the South Tower, wrote on X on September 10: ‘Tomorrow, we commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy, yet here we are today, in New York City, down the street from Ground Zero, and the PGA Tour and Tiger Woods are negotiating with them.’
9/11 Justice President Brett Eagleson (centre) said those involved in the meeting were ‘completely tone deaf’
Tiger Woods and golf chiefs were slammed by the 9/11 Justice president over the talks
He added: ‘It is disgusting, unacceptable, and incredibly painful that the Tour and Woods would do this—especially now.’
LIV Golf was launched in 2022 and though framework for a peace deal was announced last year, no agreement has yet been reached.
Rory McIlroy claimed earlier this week that the two biggest obstacles to any deal were the US Department of Justice and the ‘different interests from the players’ side’.
Asked what the stumbling blocks to a deal are, McIlroy told reporters at Wentworth on Wednesday as per Sports Illustrated: ‘Department of Justice. Maybe different interests from the players’ side.
‘I’d say maybe half the players on LIV want the deal to get done, half probably don’t. I’d say it’s probably similar on the PGA Tour.
‘Because just like anything, everyone’s looking out for themselves and their best interests. It would benefit some people for a deal not to get done, but it would obviously benefit some people for a deal to get done.’
