Golf pro Lukas Nemecz just barely made the cut at the World Tour tournament in St. Andrews, Scotland, thanks to a significant improvement on Friday. Matthias Schwab, on the other hand, missed it by one stroke on the PGA Tour in Detroit.
With a 67 round of five under par, Nemecz pinpointed his entry into the weekend. The 32-year-old posted six birdies on the second day, the decisive one coming following his only bogey on the last hole. With a total of six under par, he improved by 58 positions to a shared 50th place. The American Sean Crocker held the sole lead with 15.
Nemecz’s Styrian compatriot Schwab slipped under the ominous line in the USA with a par 72 round from 53rd place. The Rohrmooser got four birdies, but there were two bogeys and a double bogey. Sepp Straka, who started the tournament badly outside of the top 100, only played his second round on Saturday night (CEST).
Criticism of Trump over Saudi Arabia-funded golf tournament
Former US President Donald Trump has sparked displeasure with a golf tournament funded by Saudi Arabia. Relatives of victims of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 demonstrated on Friday in front of the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, according to TV images.
“I can’t believe that 21 years later we have to be here to speak out once morest a government trying to whitewash its atrocities around the world (…),” said Brett Eagleson of a victims’ organization.
Trump hosted a tournament of the controversial LIV Golf Invitational Series at his golf course on Friday. The new golf series attracts professionals with fewer and shorter tournaments and very high prize money. At the same time, she is criticized for the millions invested in Saudi Arabia. The background is that the country, which has been criticized for human rights violations, is trying to improve its reputation with lucrative sporting events.
“Unfortunately, nobody has gotten to the bottom of 9/11,” Trump said on US television on Thursday when asked regarding the tournament and the criticism. Of the 19 attackers in the 2001 attacks, most were from Saudi Arabia. The attacks will also be forever linked to the name of then al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. Behind him stood a handful of planners and masterminds alongside the assassins.
Relatives of the victims have been trying for years to hold Saudi Arabia legally accountable. Among other things, they accuse the Gulf state of having supported the rise of al-Qaeda to a terrorist organization. “The families have our deepest sympathy. While some may disagree, we believe golf is a force for good in the world,” LIV said in a statement shared with NBC News.
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Featured image: Imago.