Abstract
LIV Golf (LIV) shocked the world with its emergence in 2022. This project explores the impact that LIV has had on the sport, as well as the broader societal implications of the new Saudi Arabian backed golf league. First, an analysis of how LIV is changing golf at the professional level is conducted, concluding that LIV is creating positive change due to the elevated compensation for athletes and increased attention on golf’s biggest tournaments. Following this discussion, the geopolitical impacts, as well as the ethical issues, tied to LIV are examined. Since LIV poses little to no threat to international relations, and the U.S. and Saudi Arabia already have many successful business relationships, it is determined that the condemnation LIV has received from the public is unjustified and often hypocritical. In sum, because of the benefits LIV has created for the golf community, as well as the lack of substance to the criticisms of LIV, this paper explains how LIV is a move forward for golf.
Recommended Citation
Gilbertson, George and Sasser, Tyler
(2025)
"An Analysis of LIV Golf: Examining the Ethical and International Relations Issues Associated with Saudi Arabia’s Sportswashing Project,"
Undergraduate Research (Journal): Vol. 4:
Iss.
2, Article 2.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.58361/2766-3590.1076
Available at:
https://kb.gcsu.edu/undergraduateresearch/vol4/iss2/2
