Photo: Kim Tunnicliffe (WBZ NewsRadio)
BOLTON, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Golfers taking part in the controversial LIV Golf Invitational Series will tee off in Massachusetts later this week.
The International in Bolton will host the event from Friday to Sunday, the fourth of eight stops on the 2022 tour.
LIV Golf has attracted controversy since its inception due to its financial backing by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. Human rights groups see the tour as an example of sportswashing by the Saudi Arabian government, which has been condemned for reported human rights abuses, including the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Despite the criticism, LIV Golf has lured a number of major players from the PGA Tour to sign up, including Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, and Patrick Reed.
Reactions from Bolton residents towards the Saudi-backed golf tournament have been mixed.
"We are lending our territory to a plan by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund to sportswash the Saudi regime," one resident told WBZ.
Another resident said, "I think the PGA has been so controlling. A little bit of competition with the PGA, I don’t think is a bad thing. It might break the stranglehold they have on the sport."
WBZ's Kim Tunnicliffe (@KimWBZ) reports.
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