A group representing the families of those killed in the 9/11 attacks have slammed LIV Golf figures ahead of the rebel tour's third invitational event this week.
On Thursday, 48 players will compete in the latest Saudi-backed 54-hole tournament at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster. Among them will be Henrik Stenson, who this month was sensationally stripped of the European Ryder Cup captaincy over his defection to Greg Norman's venture.
The development led to former skipper Bernard Gallacher launching a scathing attack on Norman, accusing him of deliberately targeting Stenson to undermine the iconic team event. And the build-up to the latest LIV party in New Jersey has been further marred by protests from 9/11 Families United , an organisation consisting of family members of those murdered in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
Trump, 76, has lauded the fact his course is hosting Norman and co, and has dismissed concerns of the group, somewhat incoherently, by saying: "I don't know what is the relationship to this, and their very strong feelings, and I can understand their feelings. I can't really comment on that because I don't know exactly what they're saying, and what they're saying who did what."
Overall, 750 people killed in the attacks came from New Jersey, with FBI reports linking Saudi figures to the murders. And now Terry Strada, Chair of the group, has moved to remind the rebels of what they've aligned themselves with.
"How can I shame the shameless PGA defectors?" Strada said, via the Daily Mail. "Maybe by pointing out: when you agree to join LIV Golf, you are partaking in the [Saudi] Kingdom's effort to cleanse their responsibility for their murder of Christine Lee Hanson, the youngest victim of September 11 who was just two years old, killed on United Flight 175 travelling to Disneyland with her parents."
Strada's partner Tom was working in the North Tower of the World Trade Center when he was killed in the attacks, and she added: "Just 50 miles from where they will tee off on Friday is a national museum on hallowed ground, ensuring visitors from around the world never forget.
"And a repository safeguarding charred remains of 40% of the victims, who have never been identified or returned home for a proper burial – including my husband."
Strada has also vowed to make things difficult for those involved during the three day event, which will again consists of shotgun starts and a team competition. "We hope to make it very uncomfortable for them," she said. "To educate anyone else thinking about going over there."
It is unlikely however, that the planned protests will turn the head of Norman, 67, who has thus far appeared oblivious to any potential moral dilemma. In May, he sparked outrage with his answer to questions on Jamal Khashoggi, the Saudi journalist murdered back in 2018.
"Everybody has owned up to it, right?” Norman said. "It has been spoken about, from what I've read, going on what you guys reported. Take ownership, no matter what it is."
Not willing to stop there, he bizarrely added: "Look, we've all made mistakes and you just want to learn from those mistakes and how you can correct them going forward."
