The Swedish Anna Nordqvist, winner of the Women’s British Open 2021 in Carnoustie and vice-captain of Team Europe at the Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesìn, has suddenly decided to interrupt the collaboration with the Saudis of Aramco.
Anna Nordqvist, statements
“It wasn’t like I imagined it to be,” Anne Nordqvist told Swedish news agency TT. “I have to think about myself, so I didn’t feel well. I wasn’t prepared to receive so much hate and mean comments from people who don’t even know me.” Saudi Aramco is one of the world’s largest oil companies, the largest in the world by market capitalization.
It also represents the main means by which the Riyadh government develops its investment strategy in the sports world, in addition to golf (LIV Golf and Aramco Team Series) also in Formula 1. These agreements – involving billions of dollars – have been criticized by many as ‘sportwashing’, that is, as a way to divert attention from Saudi Arabia’s human rights and civil liberties issues.
Nordqvist made it clear that “it was never a question of money. I wanted to do something for women’s golf and especially for the European Tour.” However, she has confirmed that she will still participate in the Aramco Saudi Ladies International which will be held at Royal Greens Golf in Saudi Arabia from February 16-19.
“I have to play in four competitions on the European Tour before August because my main goal is to play in the Solheim Cup,” Nordqvist said. Of course, the financial details of this final agreement have not been disclosed.
The Rules of Golf are a set of standard rules and procedures by which the sport of golf should be played. They are jointly written and maintained by the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, the governing body for golf worldwide, outside of the United States and Mexico, which are governed by the United States Golf Association.
An expert commission made up of members of the R&A and USGA, oversees and refines the rules every four years. The latest revision has been in force since January 1, 2016. Changes to the rules of golf generally fall into two main categories: those that improve understanding and those that in certain cases reduce penalties to ensure balance.
The rule book, entitled “Rules of Golf”, is published on a regular basis and also includes rules governing amateur status. In Italy it is up to Federgolf to supervise the competitions by enforcing the rules issued by the R & A, checking that these rules are observed by the Clubs, Associations and their members and manages the resulting sporting justice, protecting their interests abroad.
