Golfer Gary Player sparks controversy by wearing Saudi-branded sweatshirt at Masters
The 86th Masters is just a day old and controversies are already brewing.
When golfer Gary Player teed off, he was wearing a branded sweatshirt representing the Saudi’s Super Golf League (SGL), a proposed league to rival the PGA Tour.
While the traditional major leagues have not publicly condemned the Saudi-funded startup, the decision to wear a potential direct competitor and exceptionally controversial league isn’t something they will just gloss over.
The 86-year-old South African also revealed to media that he recently spoke with Phil Mickelson, whose absence from Augusta is more than noticeable.
“They’re scary [expletives] to get involved with,” Mickelson told reporter Alan Shipnuck in February. “We know they killed [Washington Post reporter Jamal] Khashoggi and have a horrible record on human rights. They execute people over there for being gay. Knowing all of this, why would I even consider it? Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates.”
Following those comments, Mickelson lost several sponsorships.
While Mickelson was losing fans and some play time at home, Player disagreed with the treatment he was receiving.
“I think it's pitiful,” Player said. “It's amazing. From the epitome of perfection, he's down there being crucified. It's not right.
“The greatest PR man on the golf Tour in the last five or X amount of years has been Phil Mickelson. He has been the ideal man for a sponsor, for professional golf, for the public, the way he's handled the public, with dignity and with love. And he said he's sorry. I’ve told him, 'Hold your head up high. You've made a mistake. Everybody makes a mistake. He should go on with his life.'”
In addition to his connection with the ousted golfing legend, Player has his own history with individual advertising in Augusta.
Just last year, Player’s son Wayne was banned from the Masters for “ambush marketing,” for advertising a brand of golf balls during a ceremony that was honouring Lee Elder as the first Black man to play in the Masters. After the stunt, the now Saudi-associated elder Player called his son’s marketing ploy “wrong,” and added that he has to “take his punishment.”
Maybe he has had a change of heart for the worse.
The SGL do not just have their logo prominent at the tee. According to reports, representatives of the Saudi government have rented a house near Augusta National, where they have reportedly been trying to persuade players, agents, and potential sponsors over to their side.
As the tournament goes on, there is no doubt going to be some more SGL-related controversies as their presence looms over the tournament.
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