Augusta, GA

Saudi golf backer sought Augusta National membership in LIV deal

Published

1 year ago

July 13, 2023

Saudi golf backer sought Augusta National membership in LIV deal

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta National Golf Club was brought up this week at the Capitol Hill hearing on the controversial merger between the PGA Tour and Saudi-backed LIV Golf.

Documents released by a Senate subcommittee show the head of the Saudi investment fund wanted a membership at Augusta National as part of the deal.

The documents also claim he wanted a membership from the organizers of the British Open, as well.

So far, Augusta National Golf Club has not commented.

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Meanwhile, lawmakers will continue looking into the merger.

Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund has agreed to invest more than $1 billion in the new commercial entity controlled by the PGA Tour, a tour executive told Congress on Tuesday.

And Greg Norman will be ousted as the CEO of LIV Golf if the business deal between the Saudis and the tour is finalized,

The agreement between the Saudi Public Investment Fund, the primary funder of LIV Golf, and the PGA Tour shocked the golf world when it was announced last month.

There was no indication during Tuesday’s hearing that Congress would block the tour from going into business with the Saudis.

The subcommittee chairman, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said he was troubled by the geopolitical implications of Saudi investment in American sports and efforts by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi leader, to whitewash the kingdom’s human rights abuses.

However, Republicans on the committee were more sympathetic to the PGA Tour and the existential threat it faced from the PIF, which controls $600 billion in assets — roughly 500 times what the tour is worth.

“We’re here because we’re concerned about what it means for an authoritarian government to use its wealth to capture an American institution,” Blumenthal said.

The PGA Tour and the Saudis announced on June 6 that they agreed to drop all lawsuits against each other and combine their commercial interests into a new for-profit company while maintaining the tour’s nonprofit status. Asked by Blumenthal how much money the Saudis have committed to the new venture, Ron Price, the PGA Tour’s chief operating officer, testified the amount was “north of $1 billion.”

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Augusta, GA

The Major Rager Sets 2025 Lineup: Greensky Bluegrass, Eggy, Easy Honey

Published

16 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Press Room

The Major Rager Sets 2025 Lineup: Greensky Bluegrass, Eggy, Easy Honey

The Major Rager has announced the artist lineup for its 11th annual event, set to take place in Augusta, GA on April 12th, 2025 during The Masters. The long-running event takes its name from the professional golf tournament with which it coincides—one of four tournaments known collectively as “the majors.”

Jamgrass favorites Greensky Bluegrass will headline the 2025 edition of The Major Rager. The single-day event, produced by Friends With Benefits Productions, will also feature performances by ever-rising jam quartet Eggy and Charleston, SC-native rock outfit Easy Honey. Tickets for The Major Rager 2025 are now on sale here.

On Tour With Eggy: Waiting Game [Feature]

Greensky Bluegrass’ Major Rager headlining slow will follow an extensive run of early-2025 headlining tour dates across the country. Find a full list of upcoming Greensky Bluegrass tour dates here. Eggy, still riding the momentum of the band’s long-awaited sophomore album, 2024’s Waiting Game, will arrive in Augusta on April 12th fresh off a run of spring festival appearances at Live Oak, FL’s Suwannee Amp Jam #1, Phoenix, AZ’s M3F, Miramar Beach, FL’s My Morning Jacket-hosted One Big Holiday, and Atlanta, GA’s Mental Awakening Festival. Find a full list of upcoming Eggy tour dates here. For Easy Honey, the Major Rager marks the first announced date on the band’s 2025 tour schedule. Find a full list of upcoming Easy Honey tour dates here.

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Augusta, GA

34-year-old and 32-year-old ID’d in related Augusta fatal shootings

Published

1 day ago

November 22, 2024

Press Room

34-year-old and 32-year-old ID’d in related Augusta fatal shootings

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Richmond County Coroner has identified two victims after two related shooting incidents in Augusta, we learned on Friday.

The Richmond County Coroner’s Office responded to Wellstar/MCG about a shooting death.

Jeremy Dontavious McGahee, 34, of Augsuta was transported to Wellstar/MCG by EMS from the 2100 block of C Street with at least one gunshot wound, Coroner Mark Bowen said.

He was pronounced dead at 8:28 p.m., Bowen says. An autopsy has been scheduled.

The Coroner’s Office also responded to the 2100 block of C Street about a possible suicide.

Zyquan Jamarcus Franklin, 32, of Augusta, was found inside a residence with at least one gunshot wound and pronounced dead on the scene at 12:15 a.m. Bowen said. An autopsy has been scheduled.

Bowen says these cases are connected and in the early stages of investigation. Once the next of kin has been notified, the victim’s identification will be released.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office says deputies responded to C Street around 9:34 p.m. about shots fired with two people down.

Deputies say upon arrival, they located one male and one female subject who had been shot at least one time.

Both victims were transported to a local hospital for treatment, where the male victim succumbed to his injuries.

The sheriff’s office says investigators are still on scene as of 11 p.m.

Also on Thursday, 50-year-old Chavious Kimmerlin was shot dead in his home on Highland Avenue.

The shooting comes amid a two-year outbreak of violent crime that’s claimed more than 180 lives across the CSRA.

Cities large and small have been affected on both sides of the Savannah River. But as the largest community in the region, Augusta has been hit especially hard.

Authorities have blamed much of the problem on gangs.

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Augusta, GA

1 dead, another injured in shooting on C Street in Augusta

Published

1 day ago

November 22, 2024

Press Room

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – One person has died and another has been injured after a shooting on the 2100 block of C Street on Thursday night.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office says deputies responded to C Street around 9:34 p.m. in reference to shots fired with two people down.

Deputies says upon arrival, they located one male and one female subject had been shot at least one time.

Both victims were transported to a local hospital for treatment, where the male victim succumbed to his injuries.

The sheriff’s office says investigators are still on scene as of 11 p.m.

Also on Thursday, 50-year-old Chavious Kimmerlin was shot dead in his home on Highland Avenue.

The shooting comes amid a two-year outbreak of violent crime that’s claimed more than 180 lives across the CSRA.

Cities large and small have been affected on both sides of the Savannah River. But as the largest community in the region, Augusta has been hit especially hard.

Authorities have blamed much of the problem on gangs.

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