Is the PGA (Professional Golf Assoc.) out of line in punishing the golfers who moved to the Saudi-sponsored league?

Yes. And I believe the matter will be settled in court.

No. PGA can made its rules. They are a private organization.

The PGA is definitely out of line if it believes tradition is going to outweigh Saudi money. Out of line is tame and naive is too gentle. The association should just throw up its hands and announce “IT’S OVER!”.

It’s anti-competitive and monopsonistic.

@Caravanfan there’s no question that they can do this – they’re a private organization and can more-or-less do what they want.

I was really asking: should they? Is this a good strategic move?

Eh, is the PGA taking a stand because they disagree with how the Saudi government treats their people, especially their women? Or, just taking a stand to protect their own business? It’s probably a mistake from a business’s point of view in the long term, but if it’s to boycott Saudi, I’m fine with it.

Americans seem to be becoming more and more comfortable with the Middle East. The sports, the airlines, vacations, and I truly want the world to be an open place, and I’ve always had friends who immigrated to the US from the Middle East, but most of those countries are still quite horrible in many ways, and I’m not a fan of helping those countries financially or in the American public perception.

Although, maybe the more the world becomes intertwined maybe the more likely these backwards countries will be forced to move forward.

We basically prefer monopolies to control our upper sports echelons. If there was much competition, there would be doubt about the dominant league, and thus the perceptions of greatness would be diminished. The current model makes the most money for venues, players, teams, tv stations and cities, overall, and they are bolstered by players’ unions.

I don’t blame leagues at all for preventing players from working for the competition. They can leave, sure, but they’re gone, just like any other business.

The financial incentives are enormous. A player can make 3 to four times as much on the Saudi tour. It’s going to ne tough for the PGA to compete with that incentive. I suspect there will eventually be a merger much like they did with the old football leagues. I wonder if they’ll open up A Saudi LPGA. Now that would throw some kindling on the fire.