LIV Golf is collapsing in a sea of red ink, lawsuits, and unpaid bills. No one’s mourning its passing — certainly not the PGA Tour, the shockingly woke sports media, or most golf fans. But LIV Golf transformed the sport and everyone who loves the game, from players to fans, owes it gratitude, not scorn.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has spent roughly $6 billion on LIV Golf since its 2023 launch and pulled the plug on the endeavor earlier this year. Therein lies the primary objection — critics claim that the Saudis were “sportswashing” or using athletics to launder their less-than-stellar human rights record. Since the Saudis were behind the whole thing, the golf world had license to despise it. Not fair, not accurate, and let me show you why.