NORTH PLAINS, Ore. — For all the controversy surrounding LIV Golf — the Saudi-funded series is bankrolled by a country known to traffic in terrorism and human rights abuses, its creation has infuriated the PGA Tour and its players, all while putting the majors in a tough spot — fans don’t seem to care much.
In fact, they argue, the PGA Tour, and all major sporting events and leagues for that matter, could learn a thing or two from LIV.
“Beers are cheap here, only $5!” exclaimed Benjamin Beecher of Tacoma, Washington, who drove south about two hours for the organization’s first-ever U.S. event. “I’ll pay $70 to drink $5 beers and watch big-time pro golfers and I don’t give a (expletive) who’s selling the tickets.”
Beecher’s attitude was echoed by multiple fans who spoke to USA TODAY Sports Thursday during the first day of play at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, located 20 miles West of downtown Portland.
Is LIV’s primary source of money problematic? Absolutely, they said. But doesn’t everyone — organizations, corporations and politicians on both sides of the aisle — have ties to something that make you uncomfortable?
“The only difference with this is, it’s more transparent,” said Daniel Freauf, who lives in Salem, 45 minutes south of Portland. He drove up with his wife Charlotte and their three children, including a 1-month old newborn. “Lots of people try to grandstand, but the reality is, we all pay taxes and your taxes sometimes go to other countries that help them build bombs. We are all complicit in it in some way. And I want to watch Phil Mickelson play.”
It’s not all bad either, they insisted, as his kids picked grass and giggled at a ball that went flying toward the crowd.
“There are changing stations and nursing stations here, everything is clean and there’s so much stuff for kids,” said Charlotte. “That can be hard to find at a sporting event.”
LIV’s first event in London was capped at 8,000 tickets, but tournament officials declined to give an attendance number for Pumpkin Ridge (it wasn’t crowded). What’s also unknown is how many attendees actually paid for tickets versus being gifted free passes.
The day was not controversy-free by any means: Early Thursday morning, a group of family members whose loved ones were killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks held a press conference nearby decrying LIV golfers who have “taken the blood money.” Local and national politicians have expressed…
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