Sneakylong True, but possibly, only because their current model is to continually funnel enormous annual profits back into their ever growing behemoth of an organizational steamroller. Without the players, the league collapses. They better find a way to appease them, better than their current fear based model, and it won’t be through promises of “legacy”. They could have achieved that while remaining amateurs.

Also, do you have any clue how the IRS operates either? Twice you’ve pointlessly directed to them - when they only enforce laws. The only interest I have in their tax status is in understanding their behavior based on the lengths they go to protect it.

      Stu1961

      Now we’re on the same page. And we’ll see how it all plays out. The IRS thing was a joke. The PGA and other non profits play within the tax laws.

      Not to get sidetracked, but when we worked for AT&T you could sign up and have a percentage of your pay go to the United Way.

      When some of us found out how much out of a dollar goes to charity and how much went for administration etc., we stopped contributing. At the time it was pretty outrageous. So non profit charities are a whole other discussion. Not relevant for me here though.

        Stu1961 Shakedown. PGA got to share the wealth with some of the "right" people. If it comes down to a lobbying war I bet the Saudis are pretty good at it 😆

          Stu1961

          I posted about them increasing their lobbying efforts awhile ago. Seems ‘smaht’ to me. Use all the levers at their disposal.

              Sneakylong A lot of big companies lobby, but I have to admit I don't care for a not for profit that shouts about their charitable giving to be spending on lobbying. That money could go to charity or maybe to the "regular" employees?

              Why doesn't the Tour just seek status as a church? Many people worship golf (most are probably older white Christians?) and that would really give them freedom from the IRS lol.

                  I wonder if the Saudi's lobby against the electric/fuel efficient car industry. Random thought......

                    sdandrea1 They might be some primary investors. They are aware that they need to transition their economy away from oil as the supply dwindles. There will always be some strategic demand for oil, but for most civilian and industrial uses it has to transition to something else. Part of the reason they are investing in things like a golf tour and world-wide properties. Outside of oil, they don't have any other resources to establish industries for export.

                    https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-18/lucid-s-saudi-ev-factory-to-receive-3-4-billion-in-incentives#:~:text=Saudi%20Arabia%2C%20which%20owns%20a,over%20the%20next%2010%20years.

                        KCee

                        I have no problem with them lobbying. Lobbying is a constitutional right we all have. Not sure the Saudi's are lobbying on this, but they do spend a ton lobbying Washington. As for the church stuff, not up my alley, being a devout atheist and all. lol

                        A little story on lobbying. Years ago my brother in law's commercial fishing association went to lobby their Congressman Gerry Studds who represented Cape Cod at the time.

                        They went in to talk to him and brought a few thousand dollars for his campaign. He actually shed a tear when they gave it to him. Shorty after he announced he wasn't running for another term. Kept the money though. 😏

                            johnnydoom Outside of oil, they don't have any other resources to establish industries for export

                            Hmmmm.... so, wonder if they know the term 'diversify' ?

                                Eguller True. That's why they've invested their oil profits all over the world, and part of that investment is in companies and properties that fuel alternative energy sources. Question their ethics as you see it, but they are investing in many other future revenue streams and "diversifying" their portfolio. Only problem for them is that most of it has to be foreign investment, which means they will be fully dependent on other countries not to nationalize their properties.

                                    johnnydoom they will be fully dependent on other countries not to nationalize their properties.

                                    That is the rub. What could go wrong ? After all, everyone loves them. 🤔

                                        Eguller After all, everyone loves them

                                        Even if you don't love them, if you have a military that will depend on future supplies of oil, or your country's defense is dependent on another country whose military will depend on future supplies of oil, it might not be such a bad idea to keep a collaborative relationship with them. Someone will always love them until the last drop of oil is gone or until some other form of energy that can be delivered to, or produced at, the front line in battle comes around.

                                          Sneakylong
                                          Probably not so “smaht” if doing so brings the Dept of Justice down on them. They should probably leave the illegal monopolistic anticompetitive tactic levers un-pulled. JMO

                                            Sneakylong
                                            Sneaky … this is the second or third time I can recall you mentioning the Cape. Are you down there? I just bought a place in West Harwich (about a drive and lob wedge from Pleasant Road beach). We closed just 4 days ago.

                                                Stu1961

                                                Sneaky is near me on Florida's nature (west) coast. He hails from the land of chowdah, tho. 😉

                                                  Walterjn Cape Cod/ Cape Canaveral meh both capes... It's all good...

                                                  We're 2+ hours from Cape Canaveral. But way closer to that Cape than Cod. 😉