Paul Casey is whisked away by LIV Golf officers after being requested about 9/11 victims

This would possibly not have achieved a lot to dissuade these households who misplaced family members on 9/11 and are making ready to picket the arrival of LIV Golf into the shadow of New York.

On the finish of an uncomfortable press convention, when Paul Casey had tried to elucidate his journey from vocal critic of Saudi Arabia to the newest recruit of their breakaway tour, he was requested what he product of the protests.

The Englishman was completely happy to reply, amid accusations of ‘sportswashing’.

The LIV occasion is being held at Trump Nationwide, near New York – which has sparked protests

Casey mentioned his coronary heart went out to the victims… earlier than he was lower off and whisked away for a photoshoot.

It had already grown fairly awkward Wednesday morning, as golf’s newest LIV rebels described the epiphany that allowed them to reconcile defection with issues over human rights and homophobia in Saudi Arabia. 

England’s Casey recounted the story of a teenage woman he met there this yr, who spoke of how change had come, how doorways had opened for her and her household and the way she was even ‘wanting ahead to driving’.

Then got here American Jason Kokrak. ‘I additionally received to play with that younger woman,’ he mentioned.

Alas, it turned out, after a quick conflab, to be another person. That woman was solely 15.

Remarkably, nevertheless, each youngsters proved very eloquent and convincing. Not on homosexual rights – neither participant claimed to know sufficient to debate the topic.

However on golf’s energy to do good? Lots.

9/11 Justice put out a tv advert slamming the LIV Golf defectors for accepting Saudi money

Casey, although, insisted at his press convention that ‘change is going on’ in Saudi Arabia

‘I have been to the Kingdom a few instances… I can confidently say that change is going on and what we do is having a optimistic impact,’ mentioned Casey, who makes his LIV Golf debut this week event at Donald Trump’s Bedminster course.

‘I performed with a younger woman within the pro-am on the Saudi Invitational earlier this yr – 17-years-old, I performed along with her father and one other girl who’s a human rights lawyer and so they have been good firm, entertaining and that younger woman spoke of how issues have modified and that simply within the final couple of years – since she took up the sport of golf – how issues have radically modified for her and her household.’

It has been a dizzying turnaround for Casey, as soon as a UNICEF ambassador who in 2019 claimed he could be a hypocrite to just accept cash to play within the Kingdom given their human rights file and the warfare in Yemen.

Earlier than teeing it up at Trump Nationwide on this Saudi-funded event, the Englishman, 45 insisted: ‘It is not the place you are at, it is the place you are going.

‘There are lots of locations on the planet that I have been to, that I have been paid to go to, which I am undecided I can say the identical factor… however I can truthfully look you within the eye and say I see a optimistic trajectory within the Kingdom.’

Charles Howell III, Jason Kokrak and Casey (L-R) have been whisked away after a 9/11 query

Former President Donald Trump has heaped reward on LIV because it heads to Bedminster this week

Casey mentioned UNICEF beforehand inspired him to go to Saudi Arabia and that his change of coronary heart was not influenced by LIV Golf’s deep pockets. As a substitute, he mentioned, the possibility to spend extra time along with his household was decisive. Even when defection might spell the top of his Ryder Cup profession.

Casey has represented Europe 5 instances – and would like to do it once more. That appears unlikely, nevertheless, with rebels anticipated to be banned. Deposed European captain Henrik Stenson can be making his debut this week and the Ryder Cup has hardly ever appeared extra weak.

Casey admitted it might be a ‘large disgrace’ if the occasion grew to become collateral harm in golf’s civil warfare.

However he accused the European Tour of shifting the goalposts and mentioned questions over how this mess will likely be resolved ought to be geared toward golf’s decision-makers – fairly than gamers.

Phil Mickelson (pictured), Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau are additionally now LIV gamers

‘It appears as if the CEO (Keith Pelley) form of has discretion, and so I believe it is a very fluid state of affairs, very murky,’ he mentioned.

‘The foundations and selections which can be going to be put in place are out of my arms… proper now we’re all in limbo, which is a bit irritating.’

Casey added: ‘The gamers will not be attempting to wreck the sport. We depart this to these answerable for the Tour. On this case, with Mr. Pelley, Mr. Kinnings (Deputy CEO & Ryder Cup Director)… we have got a variety of questions, however proper now all of them appear to be coming our manner, not his manner.’