English Learning: Golf and the Saudi Investment Debate

Dialogue

Alice: Hey, Bob! You catch the news about golf lately? It’s been wild!

Bob: Alice! News? Oh, no, don’t tell me my fantasy golf team is being bought out by a sovereign wealth fund too. I just drafted a killer putter!

Alice: Ha, not quite that personal, thankfully! I’m talking about the whole PGA Tour and LIV Golf drama, and the Saudi investment. It’s all over the sports headlines.

Bob: Ah, *that* saga. I thought that was just a really expensive reality TV show about guys in polos getting ridiculously rich. Is it still going on?

Alice: Well, it *is* about money, an incredible amount, but also about the integrity of the sport, and, you know, ‘sportswashing’.

Bob: Sportswashing? Is that when you try to get a grass stain out of your favorite golf shirt with a diamond-encrusted iron? Because I’m pretty sure that just makes a bigger mess.

Alice: (Laughs) Close! It’s more like using a glamorous sport to divert attention from less glamorous human rights records. It’s a PR strategy.

Bob: Gotcha. So, basically, a very fancy PR campaign with putters. But seriously, the amount of money involved is insane. Billions!

Alice: Right? Millions, billions! And remember how some players were so against LIV, calling them ‘traitors’ and saying they’d ruined golf? And now… poof, a merger proposal!

Bob: Ah, the old ‘principles before profit’ until a bigger profit comes along. It’s like my diet plan: totally committed until someone mentions pizza. The hypocrisy is almost impressive.

Alice: Exactly! And fans are so confused. Is it good for golf? Is it just a money grab? Who knows what tournament to watch anymore, or who to root for!

Bob: They should just combine all the tours, make everyone wear matching sparkly jumpsuits, and have a mandatory dance-off after every hole. Now *that’s* entertainment I’d pay for.

Alice: You’re ridiculous! But seriously, the ethics of taking that investment… it’s a big debate. Some people are really torn.

Bob: Yeah, ‘ethics’ and ‘billions of dollars’ rarely play well together in the same sandbox. I just hope they don’t start replacing the golf carts with flying carpets. That would mess with my fantasy team’s aerodynamics.

Alice: You’ve got a point. It’s definitely a complex issue with no easy answers. Maybe I should just stick to mini-golf for now.

Bob: Mini-golf it is! At least there, the biggest ethical dilemma is whether you cheat on the windmill hole. Much simpler.

Current Situation

The world of professional golf has been embroiled in significant controversy over the past few years, primarily due to the emergence of LIV Golf, a new professional golf tour financed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). Initially, LIV Golf attracted many high-profile players from the established PGA Tour with lucrative contracts, leading to a fierce rivalry and a divided sport.

The PGA Tour criticized LIV Golf for “sportswashing” – using a glamorous sport to improve Saudi Arabia’s international reputation, particularly in light of its human rights record. Players who joined LIV were often ostracized by their former PGA Tour colleagues and faced bans from traditional tournaments.

However, in a surprising turn of events in June 2023, the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and PIF announced plans for a merger, aiming to create a new commercial entity. This proposed alliance sparked outrage and confusion among many, including players who had remained loyal to the PGA Tour, fans, and politicians, who raised concerns about antitrust implications and the ethical considerations of partnering with the Saudi PIF. The proposed merger is currently under review by various regulatory bodies globally, and the future structure of professional golf remains uncertain, still generating considerable debate and discussion.

Key Phrases

• Catch the news: To hear or see the latest information or reports.
  • Example: Did you catch the news about the latest economic forecast?
• Sovereign wealth fund: A state-owned investment fund composed of money derived from a country’s surplus reserves.
  • Example: Many countries invest their oil revenues into a sovereign wealth fund for future generations.
• Saga: A long story, especially one that involves many incidents and often extends over a period of time.
  • Example: The development of the new city hall has been a long and complicated saga.
• Integrity of the sport: The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles, in the context of sports fairness and rules.
  • Example: The scandal threatened the integrity of the sport, making fans question its fairness.
• Sportswashing: The practice of an authoritarian regime or government using sport to improve its reputation, often to distract from human rights abuses.
  • Example: Critics argue that hosting major international events can sometimes be a form of sportswashing.
• Divert attention from: To draw attention away from something.
  • Example: The magician’s assistant helped to divert attention from the trick he was performing.
• Principles before profit: The idea of prioritizing ethical standards and moral beliefs over financial gain.
  • Example: The company stated that it would always put principles before profit, even if it meant less revenue.
• Money grab: An attempt to make a lot of money quickly, often without much effort or regard for ethics.
  • Example: Some fans felt the new concert ticket prices were just a blatant money grab by the organizers.
• Play well together: (Idiomatic) To coexist or combine effectively without conflict.
  • Example: Those two colors don’t really play well together; they clash too much. (Often used metaphorically for concepts or people)
• You’ve got a point: An expression used to acknowledge that someone has made a valid argument.
  • Example: “Maybe we should leave early to avoid traffic.” “You’ve got a point, the roads will be busy later.”

Grammar Points

1. Modal Verbs for Speculation and Obligation

Modal verbs like should, might, could, and must are used to express varying degrees of certainty, possibility, or necessity.

• Should: Indicates advice, recommendation, or what is expected/proper.
  • Example from dialogue: “Maybe I should just stick to mini-golf.” (Recommendation)
  • Example: You should always check the weather before planning an outdoor event.
• Might / Could: Expresses possibility or a less certain prediction.
  • Example (implied from dialogue): “Who knows what tournament to watch anymore?” (It might be confusing)
  • Example: It might rain later, so take an umbrella.
• Must: Expresses strong necessity, obligation, or logical deduction.
  • Example: You must wear a helmet when riding a bicycle. (Obligation)
  • Example: She must be tired after working all night. (Logical deduction)

2. Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs are combinations of a verb and a preposition or adverb (or both) that create a new meaning.

• Catch up on: To get the latest information about something, or to do something that should have been done earlier.
  • Example from dialogue (similar): “You catch the news about golf lately?” (Implies catching up on news)
  • Example: I need to catch up on my sleep this weekend.
• Stick to: To continue doing or using something, or not change.
  • Example from dialogue: “Maybe I should just stick to mini-golf.”
  • Example: It’s important to stick to your plan if you want to achieve your goals.
• Play well together: (Used metaphorically in the dialogue) To combine or interact effectively.
  • Example from dialogue: “‘Ethics’ and ‘billions of dollars’ rarely play well together in the same sandbox.”
  • Example: Our new team members really play well together, their collaboration is excellent.

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences using the most appropriate key phrase from the list below. (Some phrases may be used more than once or not at all.)

(Key Phrases: catch the news, sovereign wealth fund, saga, integrity of the sport, sportswashing, divert attention from, principles before profit, money grab, play well together, You’ve got a point)

1. The debate over the new stadium has become a long-running ______ in the city.
2. Many critics argue that hosting the World Cup was an act of ______ for the host nation.
3. Our manager always says that in business, we must put ______ .
4. Did you ______ about the recent changes in the stock market?
5. The politician tried to ______ the scandal by announcing a new public initiative.
6. “We should really start saving more for retirement.” “______.”
7. Some believe the new video game release is just a ______ because it offers very little new content.
8. The recent doping scandal seriously damaged the ______ of competitive cycling.

Exercise 2: Sentence Transformation (Modal Verbs)

Rewrite the following sentences using the modal verb provided, expressing speculation or recommendation.

1. It is possible that he will arrive late. (Use: might)
2. It is a good idea for you to exercise regularly. (Use: should)
3. I am almost certain she is very busy today. (Use: must)
4. Perhaps we will go to the beach tomorrow. (Use: could)

Exercise 3: Comprehension Questions

Answer the following questions based on the dialogue.

1. What is the main topic of conversation between Alice and Bob?
2. How does Bob humorously misinterpret “sportswashing” at first?
3. What did some players initially call those who joined LIV Golf?
4. What’s Bob’s humorous suggestion for improving golf entertainment?
5. What does Alice eventually suggest she might “stick to” instead of professional golf?

Answers

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks – Answers

1. The debate over the new stadium has become a long-running saga in the city.
2. Many critics argue that hosting the World Cup was an act of sportswashing for the host nation.
3. Our manager always says that in business, we must put principles before profit.
4. Did you catch the news about the recent changes in the stock market?
5. The politician tried to divert attention from the scandal by announcing a new public initiative.
6. “We should really start saving more for retirement.” “You’ve got a point.”
7. Some believe the new video game release is just a money grab because it offers very little new content.
8. The recent doping scandal seriously damaged the integrity of the sport of competitive cycling.

Exercise 2: Sentence Transformation (Modal Verbs) – Answers

1. He might arrive late.
2. You should exercise regularly.
3. She must be very busy today.
4. We could go to the beach tomorrow.

Exercise 3: Comprehension Questions – Answers

1. The main topic is the PGA Tour and LIV Golf drama, and the Saudi investment, along with the ethical debates surrounding it.
2. Bob humorously misinterprets “sportswashing” as trying to get a grass stain out of a golf shirt with a diamond-encrusted iron.
3. Initially, some players called those who joined LIV Golf “traitors.”
4. Bob’s humorous suggestion is to combine all tours, make everyone wear matching sparkly jumpsuits, and have a mandatory dance-off after every hole.
5. Alice suggests she might “stick to” mini-golf instead of professional golf.