Republished with full copyrights permissions obtained from the Sports Today Magazine.

On July 11, the Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee on Investigations delved into the business deal between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), attracting significant attention. Now, the U.S. Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) is set to conduct another hearing on the PIF’s business deals with American companies. Although there will be no official testimony from the PGA Tour, this hearing holds the promise of shedding more light on the nature of these agreements and their implications.

Background and Senate Objectives:
Senator Richard Blumenthal, a key figure leading the investigation, has expressed concerns regarding the Saudi PIF’s intentions and its impact on American enterprises. Senator Blumenthal intends to carry out a comprehensive and unbiased examination of the agreement, while also unveiling Saudi Arabia’s business ambitions and probing the Kingdom’s involvement in the 9/11 attacks. With few answers provided by the Saudi officials invited to testify, tensions rise as questions regarding information disclosure, sovereignty, and diplomatic interests come into play.

The Absent Stakeholders:
Notably, PIF Governor Yasir al-Rumayyan, a prominent figure within the Saudi Kingdom, has chosen not to attend the hearings for the second time. The absence of al-Rumayyan, along with the PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman, raises curiosity among the public. Their non-participation creates an opportunity for other witnesses to present crucial information about the secretive negotiations that culminated in the PGA Tour’s deal with the PIF.

Expert Witnesses:
The upcoming hearing will feature three expert witnesses who specialize in Saudi Arabian-American relations and Middle Eastern foreign policy. Although they were not directly involved in the negotiations, their insights promise to shed further light on the intricacies of the PGA Tour’s agreement with the PIF.

– Ben Freeman, Ph.D., Director of the Democratizing Foreign Policy Program at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, will provide valuable expertise in international relations.
– Brian Murphy, Ph.D., Managing Director of Logically AI Inc., will bring his extensive knowledge of combating misinformation and disinformation to the table.
– Joey Shea, a researcher on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for Human Rights Watch, will offer insights from her expertise in political science.

Anticipated Disclosures:
While the absence of key stakeholders presents challenges, this second hearing is expected to unveil more substantial details about the inner workings of the controversial PGA Tour-PIF golf deal. The expert testimony and insights offered during the hearing will enhance the understanding of the agreement’s implications on American business.

As the U.S. Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations continues to explore the Saudi Public Investment Fund’s business dealings, the second scheduled hearing holds the promise of providing valuable insights. Although key stakeholders remain absent, the testimony of expert witnesses will contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the PGA Tour’s arrangement with the PIF. By examining this complex agreement, the Senate aims to ensure transparency and accountability, addressing concerns raised by Senator Blumenthal and the wider public.

This post “Examining the Saudi Public Investment Fund’s Business Dealings: A Senate Hearing Explores the PGA Tour Connection” was published with full copyrights permissions obtained from the Sports Today Magazine.