GOLOF NEWS - Four of the world's five best golfers will compete in the European Tour's new desert destination event in Saudi Arabia, which starts on Thursday, but the tournament has already thrown up uncomfortable questions for the sport.
European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley announced a three-year partnership with the kingdom in 2018 aimed at expanding the boundaries of golf in the Middle East.
But the $3.5 million event, which will be staged in King Abdullah Economic City, has split opinion in the golfing world. The Saudi regime is under intense international criticism after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi last October.
The kingdom has also been trying to shake off its ultra-conservative image, but the reform push has been accompanied by a crackdown on dissent, including the arrests of women's rights activists, clerics and intellectuals.
English golfer Paul Casey confirmed last week that he would skip the event because of Saudi Arabia's "human rights violations".
Tiger Woods, a 14-times major winner and one of the sport's biggest names, also turned down the biggest potential overseas paycheck of his career to skip the tournament, according to media reports.
Casey went public about his decision to skip the event last week.
"As I continue to face questions about my participation, I feel it's important to clarify I will not be playing in next week's Saudi International event," he said on Instagram.
