Saudi Arabia’s Plan to Conquer Global Golf

Head to 80000hours.org/wendover to start planning a career that is meaningful, fulfilling, and helps solve one of the world’s most pressing problems.
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Writing by Sam Denby and Tristan Purdy
Editing by Alexander Williard
Animation led by Josh Sherrington
Sound by Graham Haerther
Thumbnail by Simon Buckmaster
References
[1] wrestlenomics.com/2020/11/09/...
[2] companiesmarketcap.com/entert...
[3] storage.courtlistener.com/rec...
[4] wrestlenomics.com/2022/09/20/...
[5] golfweek.usatoday.com/lists/p...
[6] golf.com/news/timeline-liv-go...
[7] www.nytimes.com/2023/07/11/sp...
[8] golf.com/news/how-liv-golf-vs...
[9] www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-conte...[…]bian-Public-Investment-Fund-with-Consolidated-Appendix.pdf

Пікірлер: 1 300

  • @Crystallin__
    @Crystallin__9 ай бұрын

    Petition to rename this video “The Golf War”:

  • @KodakYarr

    @KodakYarr

    9 ай бұрын

    Or "Saudi Arabias Golf War"

  • @sklitterbeer106

    @sklitterbeer106

    9 ай бұрын

    I second this :p

  • @ducksdog9996

    @ducksdog9996

    9 ай бұрын

    Absolute perfection

  • @dogcarman

    @dogcarman

    9 ай бұрын

    Thirded. Brilliant.

  • @nerenahd

    @nerenahd

    9 ай бұрын

    😂

  • @thePronto
    @thePronto9 ай бұрын

    That was actually a pretty impressive piece of journalism, presenting a story of which the surface has only been scratched in the mainstream media. And only a passing reference to the airline industry. Kudos.

  • @aalokjoshi6839

    @aalokjoshi6839

    9 ай бұрын

    It’s Wendover the man never misses!

  • @Chorweiler

    @Chorweiler

    9 ай бұрын

    Damn

  • @capricciocrypto

    @capricciocrypto

    9 ай бұрын

    I think the Formula One references are compensating for something.

  • @emieelreegis4505

    @emieelreegis4505

    9 ай бұрын

    as saudi most of what he say not true

  • @axeavier

    @axeavier

    9 ай бұрын

    @@emieelreegis4505 what parts in particular arent true? Could you be specific

  • @TimeBucks
    @TimeBucks9 ай бұрын

    You make the most interesting videos.

  • @poetrylovers9726

    @poetrylovers9726

    9 ай бұрын

    Nice

  • @BOBYGAME420

    @BOBYGAME420

    9 ай бұрын

    Good

  • @Muhammadkamran265

    @Muhammadkamran265

    9 ай бұрын

    Good

  • @rashidsatti8263

    @rashidsatti8263

    9 ай бұрын

    nice

  • @supriyanto8401

    @supriyanto8401

    9 ай бұрын

    Thumbs up

  • @jackcampbell8380
    @jackcampbell83809 ай бұрын

    I wish your video portrayed the hypocrisy of the PGA more accurately. It was absolutely unbelievable how Monahan acted. Rory Mcilroy called himself the sacrificial lamb for the PGA for how they fooled him. Really shameful.

  • @ethanfields3853

    @ethanfields3853

    9 ай бұрын

    Aj

  • @ZappyRedstone

    @ZappyRedstone

    9 ай бұрын

    Agreed

  • @etrestre9403

    @etrestre9403

    9 ай бұрын

    I don't care

  • @Ra1d_danois

    @Ra1d_danois

    9 ай бұрын

    @@etrestre9403 Who care that you care?

  • @etrestre9403

    @etrestre9403

    9 ай бұрын

    @@Ra1d_danois u do

  • @nicolasho7664
    @nicolasho76649 ай бұрын

    Great video, but should have definitely included their entrance into global football, especially this summer.

  • @yeetmaster9010

    @yeetmaster9010

    9 ай бұрын

    I think that's big enough for it's own video

  • @billybob4159

    @billybob4159

    9 ай бұрын

    Ok

  • @evan
    @evan9 ай бұрын

    I know some KZreadrs who were paid £30,000+ to go to Saudi Arabia and post some instagrams from there, but God it made me feel sick. Really brought home how corruptive the power of money

  • @manaatti27

    @manaatti27

    9 ай бұрын

    I've seen those stories as well. Make vlogs, travel vlogs (same thing kinda), post stories that youre visiting, take videos on a yacht etc etc. Disgusting in my opinion but money rules...

  • @anonymousejones8742

    @anonymousejones8742

    9 ай бұрын

    Why the hell are y’all so sad about it?? It’s called PR and marketing?? If Louis Vuitton or any other brand paid some actors/models/whatever to advertise would you be sad about that?? It’s literally marketing, if that upsets you then idk what to tell you

  • @dr.woozie7500

    @dr.woozie7500

    9 ай бұрын

    @@anonymousejones8742 Nobody would advocate for Saudi regime if it wasn't for oil money, let's be honest. There are people who are genuinely interested in a product, and people who have no connection to it. Saudi has no golfing tradition as well.

  • @John_Smith_86

    @John_Smith_86

    9 ай бұрын

    What is so corrupt if their photos are real and not staged? I would love a sponsored and paid tour to SA, specially if my photos can be real

  • @John_Smith_86

    @John_Smith_86

    9 ай бұрын

    @@dr.woozie7500 They may not willingly advocate for SA, but surely they would advocate for the fancy things they were treated to while at SA, yea?

  • @NewsMoto
    @NewsMoto9 ай бұрын

    Damn, this is hard sports journalism for Wendover. Takes a lot of research and balls to create this. Keep it up!

  • @lusanic9288

    @lusanic9288

    8 ай бұрын

    16:04 is United Kingdom and UK not the same thing ?

  • @bearwolfable

    @bearwolfable

    8 ай бұрын

    yes@@lusanic9288

  • @devanman7920

    @devanman7920

    8 ай бұрын

    What balls does it take?

  • @ericheld8009
    @ericheld80099 ай бұрын

    I was an engineer at a company that built trailers for golf equipment companies that toured around with the PGA. Shortly before I left we were quoting a fleet of golf simulator trailers that were intended to tour around saudi arabia and teach people the basics of golf because they were trying to make it popular there

  • @user-ph8dj8xb9v

    @user-ph8dj8xb9v

    6 ай бұрын

    no you weren’t

  • @GuyGamer1

    @GuyGamer1

    5 ай бұрын

    ​@@user-ph8dj8xb9vI've worked on food trucks that got shipped there all the way from Canada. Someone working on a golf simulator for a Saudi Arabian client is absolutely believable.

  • @westrim
    @westrim9 ай бұрын

    Remember, this video was probably in the middle of production when Half as Interesting did their 400 video milestone video and noted how badly sports videos do with the core audience.

  • @tomsko863

    @tomsko863

    9 ай бұрын

    In a few months you can check and see how the view count compares to the rest of Wendover's videos.

  • @jsdp

    @jsdp

    9 ай бұрын

    @@tomsko863 I feel a decent title/thumbnail combo would make this a lot more popular. I clicked on it because it is Wendover and knew it would be high quality, but this is definitely a lot bigger than just a 'golf' video.

  • @somark28

    @somark28

    9 ай бұрын

    This is definitely beyond just golf. The primary is Saudi propaganda campaign and how they’re doing it. This is just the first and most apparent example

  • @sophiedowney1077

    @sophiedowney1077

    9 ай бұрын

    I don't give a crap about golf, but I do care about what Saudi Arabia is doing. Usually whatever Saudi Arabia is doing is what you would expect a bunch of out of touch rich people to do. It's fun to watch (although a little scary knowing that a nation with this human rights record is getting footholds in so many industries)

  • @vigilantcosmicpenguin8721

    @vigilantcosmicpenguin8721

    9 ай бұрын

    This is all part of Wendover Productions's plan to conquer sports. Watch out, Prince Mohammed. Sam Denby is going to be the next big kingpin.

  • @mattcolver1
    @mattcolver19 ай бұрын

    Don't expect to see Jet Lag the Game across Saudi Arabia any time soon.

  • @zeruzio1345

    @zeruzio1345

    9 ай бұрын

    Everybody has a price. Next season you'll see Ben, Adam and Sam racing Ferraris down the streets of Riyadh.

  • @kacpersawczak9477

    @kacpersawczak9477

    9 ай бұрын

    ​@@zeruzio1345Ben can't get drunk 0/10

  • @zeruzio1345

    @zeruzio1345

    9 ай бұрын

    @@kacpersawczak9477 if the Saudis make Ben stay sober, we riot. That is a step too far!

  • @vigilantcosmicpenguin8721

    @vigilantcosmicpenguin8721

    9 ай бұрын

    It's gonna be Crime Spree: Saudi Arabia. The game is to simply exercise basic liberties that are atrociously outlawed in Saudi Arabia.

  • @user-ed6hd9yj7x

    @user-ed6hd9yj7x

    9 ай бұрын

    @@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721are the basic liberties drinking, doing drugs, raping, and mass shooting ?

  • @timetodestination9538
    @timetodestination95389 ай бұрын

    That is the same exact argument when US support China to join WTO at 2001. That time the politician argue let China join WTO, with more influence form the Western money and culture into China, will eventually make China improve on human right. 22 years had passed and the result is absolutely devastating, not to mentions the current situation at Hong Kong. The PGA is just finding an excuse for themselves and I believe time will prove they are absolutely on the wrong side of the history.

  • @dapp5574

    @dapp5574

    9 ай бұрын

    The first thing I thought about it is how the NBA treated the Hong Kong situation. It was China influencing the NBA not the other way around.

  • @KevinFields777

    @KevinFields777

    9 ай бұрын

    I'd argue that the WTO was the right move because of the fact that China was going to push into becoming a global economic power with or without the blessing of the US, and this gives the US and many EU nations more of a say in just how fairly international trade is conducted. Had they not, 20 years down the road it's likely that China is the dominant, if not exclusive, trading partner for nearly every country south of the Equator, and many of them now in major debt or forced into deals hosting Chinese military outposts.

  • @daniel11111

    @daniel11111

    9 ай бұрын

    What is the ‘situation’ in China? Kicking out the thieving Brits who stole the island because they wanted to import opium into China?

  • @olnnn

    @olnnn

    9 ай бұрын

    Well it's a more general thing, we've created a system where everything in the west can be bought and sold if you have enough money, and politicians care more about helping their business partners hide money, evade taxes and protect assets than national security which of course dictators and oligarchs take advantage of.

  • @Homer-OJ-Simpson

    @Homer-OJ-Simpson

    9 ай бұрын

    @timetodestination,The major difference is that it actually did work on some countries back then so China joining WTO in order to improve human rights had some merits. But now we see autocrats not budging so PGA of course is finding an excuse. We already know from the past 20 years that autocrats no longer change. Now, it still works on occasion but it has to be countries/govts that require support from international organization. Saudi Arabia & Russia primarly export natural resources thus they can find buyers ANYWHERE in the world. And China has such a big domestic market that the international community also needs them.

  • @brennenhorton2493
    @brennenhorton24939 ай бұрын

    Me at the beginning: "What is this sports video, I don't care about sports. I trust you Wendover, what is this?" Me at the end: "Everyone needs to watch this."

  • @suomeaboo
    @suomeaboo9 ай бұрын

    Wendover Productions and Real Life Lore releasing two long videos about Saudi Arabia just days apart is something to see.

  • @TowerGuy

    @TowerGuy

    9 ай бұрын

    But as always Wendover's video is superior and not tedious

  • @faisalyousef2764

    @faisalyousef2764

    9 ай бұрын

    Clearly both were paid to spread such inaccurate information

  • @blazer7731

    @blazer7731

    8 ай бұрын

    @@faisalyousef2764ok Faisal. Make a counter argument to the “inaccuracies”

  • @janvanhoyk8375
    @janvanhoyk83759 ай бұрын

    UAE is sportswashing through cycling, as is bahrain currently. despite having very little cycling tradition, their names are on two of the top 3 teams at Tour de France this year

  • @insertnamehere5809

    @insertnamehere5809

    9 ай бұрын

    They also own Manchester City

  • @RealFahimReza

    @RealFahimReza

    9 ай бұрын

    what about frances ongoing financial and military colonialism in west africa, is that sportswashing if france particaptes in sports or is it sportswashing only when non western countries that do it? possibly nothing more than a superiority complex of the highest order

  • @dr.woozie7500

    @dr.woozie7500

    9 ай бұрын

    @@RealFahimReza Calm down, Fahim. The Saudi paycheck is already on its way. France has had a history of international sport before the modern era, they have never systematically bought entire sports clubs, so by definition it can't be sportswashing.

  • @rodrigojds

    @rodrigojds

    9 ай бұрын

    @@RealFahimReza we're not talking about France are we? If you feel so strongly about France please feel free to make a video about how evil they are and make whatever comments you want.

  • @RealFahimReza

    @RealFahimReza

    9 ай бұрын

    @@rodrigojds 🤡

  • @bababababababa6124
    @bababababababa61249 ай бұрын

    This is the only channel that can get people to watch a 20 min video on anything Golf related 😂

  • @tombo416

    @tombo416

    9 ай бұрын

    EDP deserves to be in jail, but the one thing he ever said that I agree with is that Golf shouldn’t even be considered a sport

  • @mnm5165

    @mnm5165

    9 ай бұрын

    @@tombo416 jacking off > golf 🤣

  • @yourfriendlyneighborhoodin1559

    @yourfriendlyneighborhoodin1559

    9 ай бұрын

    Evolution offers humanity a future as dirt, why would anyone want to see that proven true? God does not owe us any more evidence. He demonstrated his creative power and genius to all mankind by making this gigantic planet full of amazing creatures on which he has placed us. We live here with the clear knowledge that our stay is temporary. Also, No one is wondering what God requires from us. He requires us to do what is right. He placed a conscience in our minds which clearly warns us before we take wicked actions/make selfish choices. He offers us mercy for sins(the times when we have violated that conscience.) Surrender while you can.

  • @yourfriendlyneighborhoodin1559

    @yourfriendlyneighborhoodin1559

    9 ай бұрын

    How do you get to hell? Very simple: claim that you're innocent. How do you get to heaven? Very simple: Admit that you're not Innocent, you're guilty and ask for mercy. How to know if you're guilty or not? Simply: Compare your life to the Ten Commandments God gave you in the Bible. Everyone agrees that if people followed the ten commandments there would be no need for governments or police. Do not lie. Do not steal. Do not commit adultery. Do not insult God by using his name as a cuss word. There are six more but let's just leave it at that. How many lies have you told in your life? Have you ever taken anything that didn't belong to you? Jesus said, if you look at a women lustfully you've already committed adultery in your heart with that woman. How many times a day do you do that? Do you use God's name as a cuss word? Would you do that with your own mother's name? If you answer these questions honestly you know that you're guilty. God can justly punish you and send you to hell. Ask him for mercy. His name is Jesus. It's as simple as this, The Ten Commandments are called the moral law. You and I broke God's laws. Jesus paid the fine. The fine is death. Ezekiel 18:20 - "The soul who sins shall die." That's why Jesus had to die on the cross for our sins. This is why God is able to give us Mercy. Option A. You die for your own sins. Option B. Ask for mercy and accept that Jesus died on the cross for you. ❤ *Honest questions are welcome.*

  • @paladro

    @paladro

    9 ай бұрын

    i just came to shit directly on the golf... so you are wrong, didnt' finish 1 minute video.

  • @fyt54321
    @fyt543219 ай бұрын

    Sam is clearly not going to be visiting Saudi Arabia any decade soon. He should probably stay away from Saudi embassies and consulates also. Well done, thoughtful report as usual!

  • @magical_blue

    @magical_blue

    9 ай бұрын

    I like sam I watch all his channels even subscribed to nebula but when it comes to Saudi Arabia he just gets it 80 correct 20 wrong and that's makes allot of different it feels like just bashing some wierd shit

  • @AmyDentata

    @AmyDentata

    9 ай бұрын

    love all these Very Real People in the replies

  • @John_Smith_86

    @John_Smith_86

    9 ай бұрын

    SA! So wonderful you will never leave!!!

  • @christaylor9095

    @christaylor9095

    9 ай бұрын

    ​@@magical_bluetotally objective criticism on your part? Where was he incorrectly bashing?

  • @Myanmartiger921

    @Myanmartiger921

    9 ай бұрын

    @@magical_bluestill good enough

  • @iLukeBateson
    @iLukeBateson9 ай бұрын

    Great and really informative video Sam. Had no idea about any of this. And didn't expect to ever see my local football club (NUFC) in a Wendover video!

  • @Nooticus
    @Nooticus9 ай бұрын

    Definitely one of your best video essays in a while. Great job!

  • @oantran8060

    @oantran8060

    9 ай бұрын

    ok

  • @dkaloger5720
    @dkaloger57209 ай бұрын

    The thumbnail is Galaxy brain . You made the Saudi flag from the shadow of a pole .

  • @magical_blue

    @magical_blue

    9 ай бұрын

    it's offinsive you should never but shahada on the ground

  • @ghostdawg527

    @ghostdawg527

    9 ай бұрын

    @@magical_blue it’s a shadow of it

  • @JoeOvercoat

    @JoeOvercoat

    9 ай бұрын

    @@magical_blueexplain please.

  • @daveandrew589
    @daveandrew5899 ай бұрын

    There's an old saying that 'every man has his price'. Never believe that golf (or any other pro 'sport') has been about anything other than money. Yet another good reason to invest into renewable energy. Take away the petro-dollars, and the whole thing dies. Then golfers can go back to what they're best at, which is watching grass grow.

  • @farhadali7707

    @farhadali7707

    9 ай бұрын

    Funny part is golf nations are the biggest investers in renewable energy

  • @JoeOvercoat

    @JoeOvercoat

    9 ай бұрын

    @@farhadali7707Not for the sake of golf.

  • @bosandzeros

    @bosandzeros

    9 ай бұрын

    Do you really believe that the current state of technology of renewable energy is aiming at anything else other than PROFIT? Do you really believe that electric cars solve the problem of air pollution ON PLANET? Or that we will be able to produce enough batteries, solar power plants, wind generators, etc. to achieve green agenda goals ? I am afraid that business is also just investors' greed with no intention to help the world.

  • @stateofmissouri5651
    @stateofmissouri56519 ай бұрын

    Solid journalism on something I didnt have the full picture on.

  • @valentindegen
    @valentindegen9 ай бұрын

    Many thanks for telling this story to a non-golf audience

  • @photographybya7602
    @photographybya76029 ай бұрын

    You make the most interesting videos. I always enjoy them. Thank you.

  • @RecklessFables
    @RecklessFables9 ай бұрын

    In Frank Herbert's Dune, each of the ruling families owns shares in the CHOAM corporation. Their power comes from the shares they own. I feel like I'm watching this play out in real time.

  • @aalokjoshi6839

    @aalokjoshi6839

    9 ай бұрын

    Dune is largely based off of the oil kingdoms of the gulf! Herbert even said so himself.

  • @watchm4ker

    @watchm4ker

    9 ай бұрын

    @@aalokjoshi6839 More specifically - remember, he was writing Dune in the 60s - western exploitation and colonial oppression of the middle-east.

  • @alexv3357

    @alexv3357

    9 ай бұрын

    @@watchm4ker There's also a great deal based on the Russian conquest of the Caucasus region a century prior, including the Fremen's love for knives, and the notion that killing the point lacks artistry. Herbert's central inspiration came from Lesley Blanch's The Sabres of Paradise, which is a masterful epic about the warrior Shamyl's struggle against the Tsar's armies and his quest to unify the warring tribes of Dagestan and beyond

  • @the-pink-hacker
    @the-pink-hacker9 ай бұрын

    Your variety of content always exceeds my expectations. Keep up the good work!

  • @paulstransportandmore
    @paulstransportandmore9 ай бұрын

    I love your videos, and this is a really interesting topic that I've been curious about in recent months.

  • @shaun7163
    @shaun71639 ай бұрын

    Best video you’ve ever done, well done Wendover Team

  • @skFriberg
    @skFriberg9 ай бұрын

    This is without a doubt one of the best, most impressive and informative piece of journalism I've ever seen. Well done, Sam. Kudos to you!

  • @WalrusFPGA
    @WalrusFPGA9 ай бұрын

    Thanks for covering this. I would like to see a future look into the E-Sports angle there also, as the Saudis pour tons of money into gaming tournaments and buying gaming companies like SNK outright in recent years. The main export in SA used to be oil, and now it seems to be the endless well of money they now have.

  • @AL-lh2ht

    @AL-lh2ht

    9 ай бұрын

    Esports is much, much cheaper to buy them traditional sports, the gulf states love video game (no joke gaming is huge there), and it’s because individual members just like video games and want to invest in video games.

  • @davidvaxo6667

    @davidvaxo6667

    9 ай бұрын

    E sports is declining anyways, unlike normal sports it’s very hard to advertise to normal people who have no interest in gaming. I mean how hard Is it to consider that most people won’t really be interested in watching a bunch of nerd smash their keys on keyboard for entertainment.

  • @iagree4686

    @iagree4686

    9 ай бұрын

    @@davidvaxo6667 the industry is growing and is still projected to grow

  • @davidvaxo6667

    @davidvaxo6667

    9 ай бұрын

    @@iagree4686 growing doesn’t mean sustainable, major leagues are going bankrupt and e sports players are asking for millions while not creating all that much profit or viewership. It’s a stereotypical dying niche that has almost finished up it investor’s funds.

  • @Gaunerchen

    @Gaunerchen

    9 ай бұрын

    They also completely own ESL which is very big in CSGO, and other E-sport shooters

  • @fluffyjello
    @fluffyjello9 ай бұрын

    There's mostly only F1 here that's mentioned from the Saudi's arms in Motorsports. In F1, they sponsor through Saudi Aramco; In Formula E, they sponsor through SABIC; NEOM could be argued to be one of these sponsors too. Sponsoring a team in Formula E, and some events in Extreme E. Their publicity game is in sports. All kinds of sports.

  • @anhuman7022

    @anhuman7022

    9 ай бұрын

    They have a race in Jeddah also

  • @MA-rf6bu

    @MA-rf6bu

    3 ай бұрын

    Good. That means they’re evolving in the sports sector

  • @bababababababa6124
    @bababababababa61249 ай бұрын

    So this is their plan all along… to conquer golf with Ronaldo and Benzema 😮

  • @nealrigga6969

    @nealrigga6969

    9 ай бұрын

    Penaldo may as well play golf 💀

  • @tombo416

    @tombo416

    9 ай бұрын

    @@nealrigga6969 Pepsi fans be like

  • @SuperJolla84

    @SuperJolla84

    9 ай бұрын

    @@nealrigga6969 pplease dont bring that fanboy shit here. i follow to many sports pages to see this shit on a video like this

  • @mnm5165

    @mnm5165

    9 ай бұрын

    @@nealrigga6969 this guys name 😭😭

  • @yourfriendlyneighborhoodin1559

    @yourfriendlyneighborhoodin1559

    9 ай бұрын

    Evolution offers humanity a future as dirt, why would anyone want to see that proven true? God does not owe us any more evidence. He demonstrated his creative power and genius to all mankind by making this gigantic planet full of amazing creatures on which he has placed us. We live here with the clear knowledge that our stay is temporary. Also, No one is wondering what God requires from us. He requires us to do what is right. He placed a conscience in our minds which clearly warns us before we take wicked actions/make selfish choices. He offers us mercy for sins(the times when we have violated that conscience.) Surrender while you can.

  • @nathancortes3722
    @nathancortes37229 ай бұрын

    If you win at Liv Golf, you are awarded a free "consultation" at the Saudi Arabian embassy of your choosing.

  • @alexandermold8586

    @alexandermold8586

    9 ай бұрын

    And if you lose, you also get a consult to not lose next time. It costs an arm and a leg though

  • @abolmiamenx4
    @abolmiamenx49 ай бұрын

    Great video Sam, your videos are somehow incredibly inspiring

  • @JamesPhieffer
    @JamesPhieffer9 ай бұрын

    That whole "engagement leads to freedom" thesis worked out so well with China... 🙄

  • @jlee4039

    @jlee4039

    9 ай бұрын

    My thoughts precisely

  • @curtisweaver4139
    @curtisweaver41399 ай бұрын

    Ad placement at 16:36 was wonderful "The PGA announced something that no one saw coming - The Henson AL13 Razor is a razor that you buy once and own for life" Turns out the Henson guy sounds quite similar to Sam

  • @jackevansevo
    @jackevansevo9 ай бұрын

    I guess we're not going to be getting a jetlag episode in Saudi anytime soon

  • @ntlespino

    @ntlespino

    9 ай бұрын

    That's going to be a "Locked Up Abroad"

  • @rvids20
    @rvids209 ай бұрын

    It's so sad that after one 20 minute video Sam will never be invited to the Saudia Arabian Gran Prix. I guess he'll have to stick to the parking lot Miami marina instead of worrying about terrorist attacks on the track, how tragic. Great video.

  • @themapoe

    @themapoe

    9 ай бұрын

    The Saudis will invite Sam because they want to give him the Khashoggi special.

  • @MustachioFurioso9134

    @MustachioFurioso9134

    9 ай бұрын

    It's Florida...they're on track to be just like their partners in Saudi...lol

  • @JoeOvercoat

    @JoeOvercoat

    9 ай бұрын

    The Saudi track is a joke, so no big loss

  • @zacharykarlton8823
    @zacharykarlton88239 ай бұрын

    As someone who is very much into golf and has followed this LIV golf thing from the very start this was a well done video. A lot of ppl get the timeline facts mixed up this was clearly a researched video. Hats off

  • @klausunder8876
    @klausunder88769 ай бұрын

    that thumbnail is amazing

  • @magical_blue

    @magical_blue

    9 ай бұрын

    it's offinsive the shahada should not be put on the ground

  • @armadillolover99
    @armadillolover997 ай бұрын

    Another example of the Saudis stranglehold on Formula One is Saudi Aramco’s sponsorship of both the series itself and Aston Martin’s F1 team. And I’m sure they were a big reason for the new rule instituted by the FIA (the governing body for most major international motorsports) for this season that pretty much bans F1 drivers from speaking out against the regimes of host countries, with the potential consequence of being suspended from events or even excluded from the championship entirely.

  • @Hman202
    @Hman2029 ай бұрын

    absolute banger as always, Wendover.

  • @jamesharding3459
    @jamesharding34595 ай бұрын

    When I first skimmed the title, my brain tried to spellcheck “Golf” to “Oil.”

  • @Agent_Pineapples
    @Agent_Pineapples9 ай бұрын

    Whaat a great thumbnail, good job man love the videos!

  • @PEDROANTONIOAULARBOXEO
    @PEDROANTONIOAULARBOXEO9 ай бұрын

    excelente video ,debería compartirse mas la información sobre todo en los deportistas .... muy informativo

  • @andrewbenge2040
    @andrewbenge20409 ай бұрын

    The drew v Roman was part for the Saudi show, but wwe is also giving Roman a huge long reign, for record reasons.

  • @rijuvenate
    @rijuvenate9 ай бұрын

    Sportwashing will always continue to be a thing. Its up to us fans to speak out and loud about this

  • @itspossible2015
    @itspossible20159 ай бұрын

    Bravo for tackling this subject.

  • @Nooticus
    @Nooticus9 ай бұрын

    Not even watched the video yet, but whoever designed this thumbnail (Simon Buckmaster) deserves some sort of award!!

  • @VaraNiN
    @VaraNiN9 ай бұрын

    Good video, but @15:40 you could have least given a mention to the UAE with a score of 18, Qatar with 25 and Brunei with 28 (and maybe even Hong Kong with 42 and Singapore with 47)

  • @AmyDentata
    @AmyDentata9 ай бұрын

    Appreciate all the Very Real People rushing in to do PR in the comments. Very authentic

  • @anartapoashan5714

    @anartapoashan5714

    9 ай бұрын

    Refreshing change from the usual Western bots

  • @Jaydoff

    @Jaydoff

    9 ай бұрын

    Definetly not bots with broken English that the people in the replies somehow understood.

  • @Nawaf-qk9mu

    @Nawaf-qk9mu

    9 ай бұрын

    Yall are genuinely silly, no wonder you're all so ignorant about how Saudi actually is. When it's population tells you what it's actually like, yall just dismiss it as "lol bot accounts xd".

  • @John_Smith_86

    @John_Smith_86

    9 ай бұрын

    Or... maybe people are perfectly fine with the notion of supporting a evil regime? Specially when money is being sponsored to those entertainers featured? This is business, no?

  • @Myanmartiger921

    @Myanmartiger921

    9 ай бұрын

    @@John_Smith_86nah oil money bots are here

  • @patrickreuber5422
    @patrickreuber54229 ай бұрын

    Great Video as always, thank you!

  • @Homer-OJ-Simpson
    @Homer-OJ-Simpson9 ай бұрын

    NYT The Daily podcast has an interesting episode on this but it's mostly focused on the players/PGA. I love that I now get to see more from Saudi Arabia sides and their goals. The whole WWE thing, especially blocking the flight of wrestlers from leaving, was interesting part I had never heard of.

  • @JoeOvercoat

    @JoeOvercoat

    9 ай бұрын

    Their goal is to play you for a sucker.

  • @briangasser973

    @briangasser973

    9 ай бұрын

    If you wont pump enough energy domestically or use the Canadian tar sands, you are going to be buying Saudi oil, especially after you wont buy Iranian, Venezuelan, or Russian crude.

  • @Homer-OJ-Simpson

    @Homer-OJ-Simpson

    9 ай бұрын

    @@briangasser973 oil is an international commodity. There are many producers and almost everyone is a buyer. It means you aren't necessarily buying Saudi Oil but you are effected by Saudi oil

  • @genethebean7597
    @genethebean75979 ай бұрын

    UK: So nice you gotta say it twice

  • @chillingcammy1877
    @chillingcammy18779 ай бұрын

    this one's all over the map and I love it

  • @justcallmeSheriff
    @justcallmeSheriff9 ай бұрын

    Like you brought up, this issue of Saudi legitimacy mirrors US military support and aid for the nation. So long as the US refuses to hold them accountable for 9/11 and the spread of extremist ideologies, I don't expect private corporations to be moral actors in place of the US. The public are going to have to swallow the harsh reality of how many authoritarian governments the US supports through aid and arms sales, since we are incapable of compelling our politicians to meaningfully address perceived morality issues on the international stage.

  • @freeparking301

    @freeparking301

    9 ай бұрын

    In the United States it’s funny how many people are supposedly Anti-Shariah law but yet support laws that are basically Christianity’s version of it. And then there are those who just straight show you their hand by what countries they deal with and what laws they support and what they’ll turn a blind eye to. It’s kinda like stopping terrorism by suspending all flights except for the private plane getting the Bin Laden family out of the US. Or making your first presidential visit to Saudi Arabia. Wait gotta think of an example for the left or else I’ll be biased…or NAFTA…there we go.

  • @The-Plaguefellow

    @The-Plaguefellow

    9 ай бұрын

    Woah-woah-woah! That would make America *the bad guys,* or at the very least *morally ambiguous* in comparison to other sovereign states! And True Americans™ *know* that America™ can do no wrong! Saying otherwise is Socialist/Communist action and would force True Americans™ to fund and arm a fundamentalist, ultra-conservative insurgency against you that will definitely not backfire on America™ the moment said insurgency accomplishes its goals!

  • @rowen5435
    @rowen54359 ай бұрын

    "The Golf Countries"

  • @mnm5165

    @mnm5165

    9 ай бұрын

    Badum tss

  • @KnightsWithoutATable
    @KnightsWithoutATable9 ай бұрын

    With golf, Saudi Arabia wanted access to some of the wealthy fans and clubs associated with the sport.

  • @matthewboyer4212
    @matthewboyer42129 ай бұрын

    Congrats on trending!

  • @arth0heen
    @arth0heen9 ай бұрын

    Good work on not mentioning US involvement in the Yemen War. *Great journalism* of the US brand is always of the bootlicker kind.

  • @sitrilko
    @sitrilko9 ай бұрын

    A similar thing may be waiting for the world for e-sports. Dota seems like it'll head in a similar direction, with Valve downscaling their pro circuit while KSA has just hosted the biggest non-Valve event in years.

  • @wolfman030110
    @wolfman0301109 ай бұрын

    Please look into how the Saudis are also cornering global football(soccer).

  • @insertnamehere5809

    @insertnamehere5809

    9 ай бұрын

    Look at what they've done with Newcastle United & the players they've brought into the Saudi domestic league ⚽

  • @thenotoriousner
    @thenotoriousner9 ай бұрын

    And he didn't even talk about the Premier League's problem with Saudi Arabia.

  • @luckyswartz
    @luckyswartz9 ай бұрын

    I hope there can be a sequel to this with all the new football/soccer signings

  • @michealoflaherty1265

    @michealoflaherty1265

    9 ай бұрын

    Did you see what Saudi offered for Mbappé? $300m to PSG and $700m to Cillian for 1 year. 😱😱😱

  • @sonneh86

    @sonneh86

    9 ай бұрын

    ​@@michealoflaherty1265but he rejected. I don't really like him, but rejecting that much money really shows character

  • @DukeFryer123

    @DukeFryer123

    9 ай бұрын

    @@sonneh86 he is still young enough that a season in the unknown Saudi league could have an genuinely negative effect on his career. The scary thing though is players in their prime are going for big fees and big wages - Ruben Neves left wolves and he is like 25. Benzema, Henderson, Mahrez, Kante. This is such a huge disruptor in football it is going to outshine golf, formula 1 and wwe five fold.

  • @KwabenaAgyemanLipsy
    @KwabenaAgyemanLipsy9 ай бұрын

    I always enjoy your videos.... this one came at the perfect time with regards to the Saudi pro league's proposal to Mbappe

  • @Alec_Reaper

    @Alec_Reaper

    9 ай бұрын

    He thankfully rejected them and chose a actual elite team

  • @etrestre9403

    @etrestre9403

    9 ай бұрын

    He was always gonna reject that offer, it was a joke

  • @alanwu2213

    @alanwu2213

    9 ай бұрын

    @@Alec_Reaper Agreed. It would have been a travesty for him to choose money over his career at such a young age.

  • @historynerd37
    @historynerd379 ай бұрын

    I appreciate your reframe of the situation as SA "faking it until they make it" and asking ourselves when they encroach on other sports whether it's right to allow them the opportunity to fake decent human rights, political rights, etc. before they have actually made those changes and improved the lives of their people.

  • @Nawaf-qk9mu

    @Nawaf-qk9mu

    9 ай бұрын

    Don't worry about their people, we love it here.

  • @gus29361

    @gus29361

    9 ай бұрын

    ​@Nawaf-qk9mu the slaves aren't technically saudi so I guess you're right.

  • @AmyDentata

    @AmyDentata

    9 ай бұрын

    It's "entertaining" watching all the propaganda accounts show up to do PR for them

  • @Nawaf-qk9mu

    @Nawaf-qk9mu

    9 ай бұрын

    @@gus29361 For one, Qatar isn't Saudi, and for another, most immigrant workers here get money enough to provide for their entire family back home, they're not forced to come here, if they want to leave they can, and those who aren't or can't, it's not legal and whoever is doing that to them would be liable to serious punishment.

  • @Nawaf-qk9mu

    @Nawaf-qk9mu

    9 ай бұрын

    @@AmyDentata I'm a regular ass dude man, what the fuck do you mean.

  • @adolfocoy7516
    @adolfocoy75169 ай бұрын

    The way he said Drew's name at 8:32

  • @jasonscott526
    @jasonscott5269 ай бұрын

    Big ups to to you, Wendover, who makes his living and personally seems to care a lot about the ability to travel, for taking Saudi Arabia off your list of potential destinations.

  • @TimBryan

    @TimBryan

    9 ай бұрын

    Would love a season of Jet Lag in the Middle East. Whoever gets arrested first loses!

  • @JustAnswers359
    @JustAnswers3599 ай бұрын

    No one in Saudi Arabia ever plays golf. They did this for nothing but sportwashing in the US

  • @BookMarkDavis
    @BookMarkDavis9 ай бұрын

    🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:00 Saudi Arabia's live golf Investments plans to establish 10 new Marquee professional golf tournaments with $200 million backing from the Saudi Sovereign wealth fund. 01:09 PGA Tour's pay structure only rewards winners, creating challenges for middle and back-of-the-pack golfers who must pay their own expenses. 03:15 Rumors and tension build as PGA Tour players consider defection to the new Saudi-backed golf league, causing concerns for the established tour. 04:49 Live Golf Invitational announced, offering convenient locations, less stress, and higher prize money compared to the PGA Tour. 10:52 WWE faces controversy with its events in Saudi Arabia, including an alleged hostage incident and criticism over supporting a repressive regime. 13:13 Saudi Arabia's repressive policies, human rights abuses, and involvement in the Yemeni conflict raise global concerns. 19:27 Saudi Arabia's entry into sports is part of its larger strategy to reorient itself as a diversified modern economy and gain international recognition. 21:15 Engagement with Western sports leagues raises ethical questions about legitimizing Saudi Arabia without real progress on human rights issues.

  • @hrsmp

    @hrsmp

    9 ай бұрын

    Thanks ChatGPT

  • @crazymilan93

    @crazymilan93

    9 ай бұрын

    These are spoilers, not a quick takeaway for navigation

  • @CandleWisp

    @CandleWisp

    9 ай бұрын

    ​@@crazymilan93This is a documentary, there's nothing to spoil.

  • @BookMarkDavis

    @BookMarkDavis

    9 ай бұрын

    @@CandleWisp Thank you, I didn't know how to respond to them in a positive way lol

  • @BookMarkDavis

    @BookMarkDavis

    9 ай бұрын

    @@hrsmp You know it, still helped out 84 people

  • @jkellyx1yahoo
    @jkellyx1yahoo9 ай бұрын

    One of the best thumbnails I've ever seen 👍

  • @carbonhide9720
    @carbonhide97209 ай бұрын

    Can you make a video on how to start a freight rail line

  • @aaronwestley3239
    @aaronwestley32399 ай бұрын

    I love this video so much i already watched it 5x!!

  • @arthuralford
    @arthuralford9 ай бұрын

    The Saudis don't care about their human rights image, believing it to be "a western obsession over nothing." What they do care about is money, and enticing businesses to work with them. Spending money on creating an image that fits their narrative-that Saudi Arabia is where you want to be for your company's future-is an investment.

  • @koppzerrr9235
    @koppzerrr92358 ай бұрын

    18:04 Giggs, Vidic, Scholes...United legends

  • @abhinavbharadwaj4629
    @abhinavbharadwaj46299 ай бұрын

    Dude that's such a good thumbnail!! Holy shit, so clever

  • @marvintpandroid2213
    @marvintpandroid22139 ай бұрын

    LIV - Golf you can play once you have washed all that blood of your hands

  • @bubbledoubletrouble
    @bubbledoubletrouble9 ай бұрын

    21:29 “engagement with Western culture will propagate Western principles of human rights” Funny, they said that about a not-so-middle eastern country too

  • @aalokjoshi6839

    @aalokjoshi6839

    9 ай бұрын

    Bingo!

  • @clubsandwich559
    @clubsandwich5599 ай бұрын

    try watching the sponsor segment on this one! it’s a nice one

  • @camjnz
    @camjnz9 ай бұрын

    15:58 "Saudi Arabia is similar to the UAE or United Kingdom or UK." I thought the UK was the United Kingdom 😅

  • @ryanair4713
    @ryanair47139 ай бұрын

    16:01 The United Kingdom and UK aren't the same thing now?

  • @olimations

    @olimations

    9 ай бұрын

    yeah I noticed that, i recon he meant to say "United States and UK"

  • @ThinkingFootball
    @ThinkingFootball9 ай бұрын

    Great sports journalism and succinctly explained naunced situations - top work as always mate.

  • @kazisamir3411
    @kazisamir34119 ай бұрын

    Working at the F1 2022 Saudi Arabia gp was the best thing ever. On the one hand you can see all the foreigners scared for their lives & on the other you can see all locals excited & going to the attacked storage tank location to take pictures & also seeing it in person. Jeddah Snapchat & twitter was bussing with pictures & videos of the fire. Also just remember that the attack ended up helping Saudi more than everything it was trying before.

  • @iamsheel

    @iamsheel

    9 ай бұрын

    I'm certain we didn't hear about that at all.

  • @stevemattero1471
    @stevemattero14719 ай бұрын

    They gotta make a wolf-of-wallstreet style movie about this! The absolute audacity of the greed on display is amazing

  • @timothymclean
    @timothymclean9 ай бұрын

    I can do normal golf at home. If they don't set up a golf course where you have to hit a ball between two skyscrapers, then what's the point?

  • @JustCaden

    @JustCaden

    9 ай бұрын

    Do you think all golf courses are the same? A public course in your neighborhood is a very different experience then a expensive private club

  • @adrianvandijk1896
    @adrianvandijk18969 ай бұрын

    this guy really just finds a random topic and makes an interesting video on it

  • @prettypic444
    @prettypic4448 ай бұрын

    whelp, there goes Jet Lagged: Saudi Arabia season!

  • @TheSkulldan
    @TheSkulldan9 ай бұрын

    The country is taking big dips into Esports as well which is odd to see.

  • @robertlee5456
    @robertlee54569 ай бұрын

    This drama is far more entertaining than the sport itself.

  • @urIauber
    @urIauber9 ай бұрын

    9/10 video (point reduction only because i was hoping you would include the absolutely insane situation going on right now with football)

  • @caty863
    @caty8639 ай бұрын

    By these definitions you stated towards the end of the video, the *second* seems to be the most fundamental unit. It's thus a shame that a metric time has failed to stick, not thanks to lack of try by no other than Bonaparte himself.

  • @giacomowatson9044
    @giacomowatson90449 ай бұрын

    when you love wendover AND golf >> thank you sam for making a video on the game i’m currently addicted to 😅

  • @tacitus6384
    @tacitus63849 ай бұрын

    They're trying to buy their way into a good reputation.

  • @ii191
    @ii1919 ай бұрын

    This is the best thumbnail I have ever seen.

  • @23davidian96
    @23davidian968 ай бұрын

    Great video, but i love inclduing clips of different sports people playing pro ams haha. Not surprised Ben Stokes has a great swing 😂

  • @aalokjoshi6839
    @aalokjoshi68399 ай бұрын

    The WWE example is exactly what’s going to happen to Ronaldo and co and the PGA golfers. If you join hands with a barbaric money rich iron fist theocratic backwater… don’t be surprised if you find your hand cut off.

  • @nehneh0073

    @nehneh0073

    9 ай бұрын

    Why don't you let the people lead their country the way they want? It's not because it doesn't align with your views that they shouldn't have a chance to be part of the international sport scene.

  • @aalokjoshi6839

    @aalokjoshi6839

    9 ай бұрын

    @@nehneh0073 did I say that Saudi shouldn’t lead the country the way they want? No. However, that doesn’t mean I can’t criticize them for the horrendous state they are. Also, them being the barbaric money rich iron fist theocratic backwater is a perfect reason to not let them buy their way to the table. They have zero sporting history. If they want they can try to popularize a sport of their own.

  • @oshomahimhomoh7801

    @oshomahimhomoh7801

    9 ай бұрын

    Lol pls...people playing sports in western nations like US who have also committed atrocities are also joining hands with them?

  • @JoeOvercoat

    @JoeOvercoat

    9 ай бұрын

    @@oshomahimhomoh7801That is a false analogy.

  • @AwesomeusPrime

    @AwesomeusPrime

    8 ай бұрын

    ​@@oshomahimhomoh7801how does what you said invalidate all the shit about SA?

  • @John_Smith_86
    @John_Smith_869 ай бұрын

    Huh. Seems surprisingly similar to how my Singapore is attracting F1 races and the recent Taylor Swift tour series. Although we are considerably better on human rights, what with not chopping off people's heads and such. Still, our government do expect to earn back the money from the tourism sector though

  • @Nawaf-qk9mu

    @Nawaf-qk9mu

    9 ай бұрын

    How is capital punishment on terrorists and people involved in terrorist attacks not fair? So many countries have capital punishments too...

  • @dr.woozie7500

    @dr.woozie7500

    9 ай бұрын

    @@Nawaf-qk9mu Jamal Kh ashoggi got capital punishment for speaking out against MBS.

  • @John_Smith_86

    @John_Smith_86

    9 ай бұрын

    @@Nawaf-qk9mu So... only these people's heads are chopped off? Nobody else? Yea, Singapore executes many people too. The difference is the people we execute are generally considered criminals by every country and every society

  • @Nawaf-qk9mu

    @Nawaf-qk9mu

    9 ай бұрын

    @@dr.woozie7500 How come no other Saudi journalist who speak against Saudi have also been killed? The only source confirming it was ordered by the Saudi government is the CIA, an organization notorious for overthrowing and pressuring external governments into submission on a whim, and Turkey, who have a personal vendetta against Saudi, especially Erdogan and his neo-ottoman politicial views.

  • @ShankarSivarajan

    @ShankarSivarajan

    9 ай бұрын

    @@dr.woozie7500 "Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences."

  • @j.mieses8139
    @j.mieses81399 ай бұрын

    Well done!

  • @morganmedrano920
    @morganmedrano9209 ай бұрын

    Props to the thumbnail editor(s). 👏

  • @baahcusegamer4530
    @baahcusegamer45309 ай бұрын

    First they came for our oil [markets]. Then they took our golfing titles.

  • @Nawaf-qk9mu

    @Nawaf-qk9mu

    9 ай бұрын

    Your oil? Last I checked the oil we have comes from our own land.

  • @baahcusegamer4530

    @baahcusegamer4530

    9 ай бұрын

    @@Nawaf-qk9muyeah, I could have phrased that joke better. Updating to oil [markets]

  • @Nawaf-qk9mu

    @Nawaf-qk9mu

    9 ай бұрын

    @@baahcusegamer4530 If you don't want people to control certain parts of the market, maybe don't control all of international trade? Don't force us to live next to a neighbour who has no business being there. Don't force us to sit by while you invade our brothers in Iraq. Don't control who we trade with and who we don't? There's a disproportionate exertion of power- that's for sure - but you definitely shouldn't be the one complaining.

  • @fish_birb

    @fish_birb

    9 ай бұрын

    @@Nawaf-qk9mu Daily reminder that all of the autocratic Gulf States (and _especially_ Saudi Arabia) are enabled by yours truly the US of A as their proxies and allies in the Middle East.

  • @Myanmartiger921

    @Myanmartiger921

    9 ай бұрын

    @@Nawaf-qk9mumo offence take away the oil gas money and gulf states will be overrun by persia or turkey all the way to Egyptian borders. You would not exist without American defence.

  • @jimsvideos7201
    @jimsvideos72019 ай бұрын

    Anybody who supports this should go on TV or whatever and explain how they can justify supporting a government who saws journalists into pieces.

  • @JustCaden

    @JustCaden

    9 ай бұрын

    I would if I could

  • @pk4459

    @pk4459

    9 ай бұрын

    Everyone and everything is for sale at the right price.

  • @Steyr32

    @Steyr32

    9 ай бұрын

    Racist, why don't ya go into TV and justify the 1 million killed in Iraq by American invasions? Or the genocide against native Americans? OR the enslavement of Africans? Americans have built their country on blood, slavery and exploitation has no right to question Saudi Arabia who got blessed with oil and didn't colonize/slaughter faraway people.

  • @dand5829

    @dand5829

    9 ай бұрын

    Explain how they support a government that regularly bombs civilians and children, albeit through a proxy.

  • @nnaif

    @nnaif

    9 ай бұрын

    Are you saying one dead journalist affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood is worse than the illegal occupation, invasion and theft of resources of Iraq by the US which resulted in the death of a million innocent lives, a large portion of which are.. journalists?