• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
exclusive
Media

Who Is Funding The Attack Ads Against LIV Golf?

  • A new group, 9/11 Justice, has spent more than $230,000 running anti-LIV commercials this summer.
  • The effort mirrors dark money political campaigns as contributions to the group are anonymous.
9/11 Justice
Chris Pedota/USA TODAY NETWORK

Dennis McGinley held up a photo of his brother, Danny, who was among the nearly 3,000 killed during the 9/11 terror attacks. 

“You’re taking money from an evil regime,” Dennis McGinley said as images of Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau flashed in the background.   

The emotionally raw ad was part of a campaign launched against LIV Golf over its ties to Saudi Arabia. Many of the people affiliated with group behind the ad, 9/11 Justice, are plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed against Saudi Arabia that alleges the government “knowingly” provided support for the attacks. 

Nearly 21 years after the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon carried out by 15 Saudi citizens and four others, the emotional impact of 9/11 hasn’t faded. Members of 9/11 Justice have gotten their message out in interviews on ABC News, CBS News, CNN, and many other outlets. 

Between the commercials and the news coverage, 9/11 Justice has reached an estimated 9 million television viewers. 

The astonishing part: 9/11 Justice didn’t exist until just a few days ahead of the first U.S. LIV Golf event, where the first ads ran in June. And exactly who has paid more than $230,000 on anti-LIV Golf commercials remains a mystery.

A Front Office Sports investigation shows the secrecy behind the group is by design, utilizing tactics reminiscent of “dark money” political campaigns. 

While not revealing the donors to 9/11 Justice, president and co-founder Brett Eagleson did offer some clues in an interview with FOS. 

“The money is coming from deep-pocketed individuals and entities that share in our pursuit of justice and they want us to succeed,” said Eagleson, who lost his father in the terror attacks. “We need to protect our donors because we are up against some really nasty people, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They would do anything to discredit our donors.”

Eagleson added that even though the group is new, he’s among the many people associated with it that have been critics of Saudi Arabia and its business ventures in the U.S. for years.

The group was founded days before LIV Golf’s U.S. debut in Portland and is run as a social welfare group under Section 501(c)(4) of the U.S. tax code. That means while it has non-profit status, it’s not required to disclose donors. Most public interest organizations and charities exist under 501(c)(3) in the tax code, which requires them to list the source of top donors. 

The loophole that skirts both IRS and Federal Election Commission disclosures has been utilized for years in dark money campaigns to run ads without knowing who funded them. The first notable example can be traced back to the group Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, which spent millions in a campaign against Democratic candidate John Kerry during the 2004 presidential election.

As such, there’s no definitive way to tell who exactly is funding 9/11 Justice. But FOS, through interviews and research, has been able to identify some details of the group. 

  • 9/11 Justice was incorporated in Delaware on June 27, 2022 according to public records. 
  • The website’s domain was registered on June 22 and launched the same day.
  • Media Ad Ventures, a Virginia-based ad buying company with ties to the GOP, placed the ads in Portland, according to FCC filings.
  • An open letter titled “An Open Letter to PGA Tour Members” was on the page at launch per The Internet Archive. The letter was signed by 1,650 people who either lost loved ones or survived 9/11.
  • That list of names is identical to a letter sent by the law firm Kreindler & Kreindler to President Biden in August 2021 that sought the release of documents related to the FBI’s investigation into Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the terror attacks. 

Kreindler & Kreindler issued the following statement to FOS: 

“We represent thousands of members of the 9/11 community, many of whom for years have been passionate and outspoken advocates, in the pending litigation against Saudi Arabia for its role in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. While many of our ideologies likely overlap given our shared goal of justice for the 9/11 community and several of our clients are involved in the group, 9/11 Justice is a wholly independent organization unaffiliated with our firm. Neither the firm nor any of our individual partners have funded or helped arrange funding for 9/11 Justice. We do not oversee, advise, or materially support their efforts in any way. As we approach the 21st anniversary of the attacks, Kreindler & Kreindler’s focus remains on prosecuting this case and obtaining justice for 9/11 families.”

The PGA Tour — which is the target of an antitrust lawsuit filed by LIV Golf and some of its golfers — hasn’t had any direct involvement with 9/11 Justice, a source close to the PGA Tour told FOS. 

Beyond the ads buy, 9/11 Justice also paid the travels costs for several people who lost loved ones or survived the terror attacks to protest outside the LIV events in Portland and Bedminster, New Jersey. 

In red hats that read “9/11 Justice,” they talked to several media members to draw attention to the Saudi-backed tour. Some held pictures of loved ones that were killed. 

The group won’t have a formal protest for this weekend’s event outside Boston, although their commercials will run on the Golf Channel, ESPN, NESN, and Fox News Channel. The ads run Thursday through Sunday in the local markets where LIV is playing.

Per data reviewed by FOS earlier this week, 9/11 Justice will spend at least $40,000 to run the ads in Boston.

Eagleson said the plan is to keep a similar effort going for LIV Golf events in Chicago and Miami to close out the season and, likely, in 2023. 

“When people talk about LIV, they aren’t talking about golf,” he said. “What they are talking about is 9/11. They’re talking about [slain Washington Post journalist Jamal] Khashoggi. They are talking about all the other bad things the Saudis are involved in. It’s been a good opportunity for us to insert ourselves into the dialogue.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Maverick Carter, LeBron James
exclusive

New International Basketball League Plans Launch, Without Maverick Carter

The venture plans to launch men’s and women’s leagues next fall.
Oct 4, 2025; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive back DeShon Singleton (8) celebrates after making an interception during the game against Michigan State at Memorial Stadium.
exclusive

Big Ten Considering Investment From California Pension Fund

In the proposed deal, the Big Ten would spin off assets into a new entity.

Amazon Adds Golf to Its Packed Black Friday Sports Lineup With NFL,..

On Nov. 28, The Skins Game will return for the first time since 2008.
Oct 4, 2025; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys outside linebacker Poasa Ute (35) and Wendell Gregory (4) celebrate during the third quarter of the game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium.
exclusive

New Bill Aims to Prohibit Athletic Department, Conference Private-Equity Deals

The bill would bar schools from selling ownership stakes.

Featured Today

Paul Cartier

Sports Organists Are Still Thriving in the Era of Raucous Arena Music

“When they walk out and they see a real organ guy, it’s like, ‘Wow.’”
Sep 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Jackson Chourio (11) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field.
October 4, 2025

Milwaukee Moneyball: Brewers Are Beating MLB’s Deeper Pockets

Milwaukee is holding its own against big-budget competitors.
Kōloa Rum Company Rum Rusher
September 27, 2025

Panthers Bubbly, Jets Wine, Manning Whiskey: The Sports Booze Boom

A sommelier dives into the sports booze trend—and tries Jets wine.
Nov 17, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers fans wave Terrible Towels against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium
September 26, 2025

Steelers’ Irish Roots Are Deeper Than NFL Dublin Game

The Steelers have history and the foundation for a future in Ireland.
Mar 19, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; USA shortstop Trea Turner (8) throws to first base for an out during the first inning at LoanDepot Park.

Fox Picks Up Media Rights to 2026 World Baseball Classic

The network will repeat its role in the international baseball tournament.
Sep 27, 2025; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Josh McCray (2) runs against Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green (41) and defensive back Keon Sabb (3) in the second half at Sanford Stadium.
exclusive
October 2, 2025

College Football Viewership Is Up Double Digits. Here’s Why

Average game viewership is up by more than 10% so far.
October 6, 2025

Mark Sanchez Charged With New Felony in Indianapolis Case

The broadcaster and ex-NFL quarterback faces up to six years in prison.
Sponsored

How Jenny Just Is Shaping the Future of Sports Ownership

Jenny Just on bringing her investment experience to sports ownership.
The NBC Sports broadcast team works Michigan State's football game against Boston College on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.
October 2, 2025

NBC Sports, Peacock Stay on YouTube TV With Long-Term Deal

The broad-based agreement keeps NBC channels with the key distributor.
Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) throws the ball during the first half of a NCAA college football game against Alabama in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, September 27, 2025.
October 1, 2025

Alabama-Georgia Draws 10.4M Viewers, Drives Record CFB Season Pace

ABC drew 10.4 million viewers for Alabama-Georgia.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) pulls down a touchdown reception against Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland (26) in the fourth quarter during their football game Sunday, November 13, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.
September 24, 2025

Packers-Cowboys Game Is Getting Super Bowl–Like NBC Treatment

The network will bring its pregame show to Dallas.
Sep 18, 2025; College Park, Georgia, USA; Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston (7) reacts as the Fever defeat the Atlanta Dream during game three of round one for the 2025 WNBA Playoffs at Gateway Center Arena at College Park.
September 19, 2025

Fever Upset of Dream Brings Ratings Boost to WNBA Semis

The Indiana Fever will face the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals.