9/11 Families United say the merger between the PGA Tour and the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league is “unforgivable”.

The group, which represents people who lost loved ones in the attack on the Twin Towers, has brought a lawsuit against the Saudi Arabian Government. 

Fifteen of the 19 hijackers involved in 9/11 were Saudi and the group believes Saudi officials were complicit in the attack - something Riyadh has strenuously denied.

9/11 attack.

The merger has taken the world of golf by surprise and on Newstalk Breakfast this morning, 9/11 Families United Chair Terry Strada said she was devastated by the news.

“I was shocked,” she said. 

“I had no idea that this was anything that could possibly happen and I thought to myself, ‘Oh my God, the Saudis have infiltrated professional golf just like they infiltrated our airspace on September 11th and murdered nearly 3,000 Americans on American soil.’ 

“I was just hugely upset by it.”

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan has said the merger would create a “transformational partnership” for the golfing world and promised the new organisation would “benefit players, partners and fans”. 

Mr Monahan has previously spoken about knowing people who died in 9/11 and Families United cannot understand how he could have sanctioned the merger. 

“I’m just appalled,” Ms Strada said. 

“I’m just very disappointed; I think what he [Monahan] has done is unforgivable. 

“He’s betrayed us, he’s betrayed our trust, he’s betrayed our request for justice by giving the Kingdom now a larger platform to sportswash.” 

Not everyone in the world of golf is happy with the merger; Rory McIlroy has spoken of feeling “somewhat like a sacrificial lamb” after the announcement. 

McIlroy added that the merger would likely be good for golf in the long-term but despite everything, "I still hate LIV."

Rory McIlroy speaking during a press conference in July 2019 ahead of the Open Championship at Royal Portrush in Co Antrim. Picture by: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

His stance on the merger has helped endear him to Ms Strada.

“I love Rory,” she said. 

“I love how he stood loyal to the PGA and I love his commitment to golf and to the principles that he stands on. 

“He’s just a wonderful human being and he did the right thing when he turned down the large amount of money to betray the PGA.” 

The cost of the merger has yet to be agreed.

Main image: Split of Ms Strada and a golfer.