I figured this could be a healthy debate/conversation.

https://www.golfchannel.com/video/morning-drive-saudi-arabia-golf-event-controversy

Interesting points from all the panel

Brandel and I actually agree on something

Not a big fan of Chamblee but he's right.

Why would Koepka or any other top player even entertain going with how potentially dangerous it could/would be for them?!

Yeah, I wouldn't voluntary play there. The Euro Tour is clearly after the $$. Nothing real surprising. Money almost always trumps ethics and morals.

_lefraud_ said:

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Why would Koepka or any other top player even entertain going with how potentially dangerous it could/would be for them?!

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Saudi Arabia isn't dangerous overall....this golf tournament most assuredly won't be dangerous.

I find it somewhat difficult to judge SA harshly because the entire region is a mess. To maintain rule over there is ugly business. I wouldn't boycott anything over Khashoggi. It wasn't how things should be done, but they took out the trash with that one.

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aggiedent said:
Yeah, I wouldn't voluntary play there. The Euro Tour is clearly after the $$. Nothing real surprising. Money almost always trumps ethics and morals.

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The world cup in Qatar says hello...

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Are you, and the 2 guys who blue starred you, sure you understand what the expression "...says hello..." means?

Qatar essentially bribed FIFA officials with loads of money to overlook the human rights issues in their country. It's the classic example of money trumping ethics and morals.

rosco511 said:

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This is laughable. The European Tour plays events in Turkey, China, UAE, Qatar, Malaysia, and Oman and nobody has a problem with it. All of these other countries have a history of oppression and civil rights abuses.

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THANK you. The journos have their drawers in a knot all of a sudden because one of their own was killed.

I find this just ridiculous. Americans have been there for years! FDR found that money and oil! My friend has been working at Saudi Aramco for 6 years and have four years left to hit his early retirement. Works and lives on compound with other Americans, Brits, etc.

Let's get off our high horse here and play golf. The new crowned prince is definitely moving the kingdom into more modern and western times.

DannyDuberstein said:

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Big Cat `93 said:

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rosco511 said:

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This is laughable. The European Tour plays events in Turkey, China, UAE, Qatar, Malaysia, and Oman and nobody has a problem with it. All of these other countries have a history of oppression and civil rights abuses.

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THANK you. The journos have their drawers in a knot all of a sudden because one of their own was killed.

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One of their own who was a supporter of terrorism

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Nailed it.

I am on mobile so can't link easily to Golf and Eddie Pepperell's response to the controversy. He pointed out they play in several places that has horrible human rights records (China, Qatar, etc). So why no uproar on them?

Eddie has a way of cutting through the BS.

Brandel is a virtue signaling *****. The players are professionals, i.e. mercenaries. They follow the money and WR points.

Let's see what they say about Phil committing to this tournament for 2020. The writer for Golf.com was calling the tournament controversial. Then I checked his bio. A 2014 college grad.

Kashoggi was a Qatar info operation that played the Post. By our standards he should not have been killed, but the game is played much differently in that part of the world.

I dont think its controversial from a location standpoint, i hate more that its the week of a big us event.

I get growing the game and getting paid globally like the nba/china, but why cant this be done like a ton of the other stuff going on in the fall and keeping phil, dj, brooks, finau at phoenix?

I dont care at all when its done in the "off season", sucks when its during the actual part of the tour people care about.

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The writer for Golf.com was calling the tournament controversial. Then I checked his bio. A 2014 college grad.

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Why would that matter?

Ed Gelton said:

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The writer for Golf.com was calling the tournament controversial. Then I checked his bio. A 2014 college grad.

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Why would that matter?

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Just my opinion that they are young, naieve, toting and preconceived agenda. That was just the way I felt.

The Lost said:

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I dont think its controversial from a location standpoint, i hate more that its the week of a big us event.

I get growing the game and getting paid globally like the nba/china, but why cant this be done like a ton of the other stuff going on in the fall and keeping phil, dj, brooks, finau at phoenix?

I dont care at all when its done in the "off season", sucks when its during the actual part of the tour people care about.

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This is part of the European swing through the Middle East. Right after Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

https://nypost.com/2019/12/03/tiger-woods-its-ok-phil-mickelsons-playing-in-saudi-arabia/

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Mickelson later replied to criticism on Twitter by saying, "I understand those who are upset or disappointed. You'll be OK.

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