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2019 McIlroy And Johnson Among Players PSG President Al-
Who Considered US Open Boycott
29th, Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson were among the players

May who considered a boycott of the US Open, according to a report Khelaifi Charged
in Golf Digest.
| and tournament organizers, the USGA admitted they went “too With Corruption
The tournament has been beset by problems in recent years
EXAMINER far” with the set up of Shinnecock Hills last year after only three aris St Germain presi-

players broke par in the third round.
In 2015, the greens at Chambers Bay were likened to “putting
dent Nasser Al-Khelaifi
IRISH on broccoli” by Henrik Stenson and Gary Player felt the course Phas been charged with
was designed by “a man who had to have one leg shorter than the
corruption by French author-
other”.
But it was the bizarre rules decision – or rather indecision – ities, his lawyers have con-
which left the eventual winner Dustin Johnson, other players, firmed.
officials and spectators unsure of what his score was with just The Qatari businessman
seven holes to play in 2016, which reportedly prompted talk of a has been accused of making
boycott. payments totaling $3.5million
“We had about 10-15 guys who were willing to sit out after (£2.8m) to try to secure the
2016,” Golf Digest quotes a winner of multiple PGA Tour titles 2017 World Athletics
as saying. “Some of them were big names – Dustin was one, Rory Championships and 2020
was another.” Olympics for Doha.
A player identified as a major champion and former world Al-Khelaifi, who also runs
number one is quoted as saying: “I was prepared to do it. Qatari TV channel BeIn
Absolutely”. Sports, denies the claim.
Players spoke to the magazine on condition of anonymity, and The allegations concern
another added: “I figure we needed about 25 guys, and I think we payments from Al-Khelaifi’s
could have gotten there based on what I was hearing from play- company Oryx to a firm run Doha lost out on the 2017 neither a shareholder nor a
ers. by the son of Lamine Diack, World Championships to director of Oryx in 2011. He
Really, just one would have done it, but Tiger (Woods) wasn’t then president of the London and the 2020 was not directly or indirectly
playing at the time. Without us, they (the USGA) don’t have a International Amateur Olympics to Tokyo and the involved in Doha’s bid to host
tournament. Athletics Federation (IAAF). majority of the fees were the 2017 World Athletics
Players were also dissatisfied with the distribution of money “Nasser Al-Khelaifi is repaid by Pamodzi, the Championships.
from the USGA’s television deal with Fox, which began in 2015. charged with having ‘validat- lawyers add. “Furthermore we remind
A winner of several PGA Tour titles is quoted as saying: “I still ed this payment’, to the ‘ulti- They went on to point out you that at that time he had
don’t know where [all the additional money from Fox] goes. I’ve mate beneficiary’ of Lamine that Al-Khelaifi had no been placed on leave of
tried a thousand times to get an answer. Diack,” read a statement involvement in Doha’s bid absence from his operational
“The USGA is making about 100million US dollars a year that from lawyers STAS & for the World activities within Al Jazeera
we know about, that’s just US TV revenue, not international TV Associates. “Both these state- Championships and he was Sport, having already been in
money, merchandise and sales and so on. ments are also inaccurate.” also occupied with acquisi- charge for several months of
“If you can show us how you’re using that money to grow the The lawyers claim that the tion of PSG by Qatar Sports negotiating the acquisition of
game, we’d be all about it. But they haven’t shown us that.” C payments made to Pamodzi Investments at the time. Paris Saint Germain, of which
Sport Consulting, the compa- Francis Szpiner and he became chairman of the
Tiger Woods Confirms He’ll Play In ny run by Papa Massata Renaud Semerdjian of STAS supervisory board on June 30,
Memorial Tournament And US Open Diack, largely concerned tele- & Associates said in the state- 2011. These facts do not con-
ment: “Nasser Al Khelaifi was
vision and sponsorship rights.
Tiger Woods will not be taking another long break between cern him.” C
majors after announcing his intention to play in next week’s FIFA Scraps Plans For 48-
Memorial Tournament.
Woods did not play competitively between winning his 15th
major title in the Masters and last week’s US PGA Championship,
where he missed the cut by a shot following rounds of 72 and 73. Team World Cup In Qatar
The 43-year-old was understandably rusty at Bethpage and
was also unable to practice on the eve of the tournament due to he 2022 World Cup States, Canada and Mexico. It added that there was
illness. in Qatar will be a FIFA carried out studies also not enough time for
“I’ve enjoyed being the Masters champion again, the PGA was T32-team tournament to determine whether it Qatar itself to assess the
a quick turnaround and unfortunately I just didn’t play well,” as originally planned, would be feasible to increase potential impact of hosting
Woods said after missing the cut. “I didn’t do all the little things FIFA has announced. participation in Qatar in an expanded tournament. C
I need to do correctly to post good scores and put myself in posi- The world governing three years’ time but it was
tion to shoot good scores. body had considered not logistically possible.
“There’s no reason why I can’t get up to speed again and crank expanding its showpiece The statement read:
it back up. I’ve got to start feeling a little bit better first before event to 48 teams but has “FIFA and Qatar have jointly
that happens. We’ll do that first and then start cranking it back up now determined this is not explored all possibilities to
again.” practical. increase the number of par-
Woods announced his decision to play at Muirfield Village on “The FIFA World Cup ticipant teams from 32 to 48
social media, writing on Twitter: “Ohio next week for the Qatar 2022 will, therefore, teams by involving neigh-
@MemorialGolf, then Pebble for the @usopengolf. Looking for- remain as originally planned boring countries. Following
ward to getting out there again.” with 32 teams,” a statement a thorough and comprehen-
The former world number one has won the Memorial read. sive consultation process…
Tournament five times, most recently in 2012. He won the US The World Cup is due to it was concluded that under
Open at Pebble Beach in 2000 by 15 shots, a record for any become a 48-team tourna- the current circumstances
such a proposal could not be
ment in 2026 when it is host-
major. C
ed jointly by the United made now.”