Booth to retain ambassador role despite row over tweet
● Scot’s tweet in praise of Saudi golf federation sparks fury over country’s human rights record
Carly Booth is set to hang on to her role as a S cottish Golf ambassador despite coming in for strong criticism over a new sponsorship with the Saudi Arabia Golf Federation.
The 26-year-old from Comrie in Perthshire, a t wo-time winner on the Ladies European Tour, announced the tie-up on her Twitter account earlier this week in a now-deleted post on the social media site.
Booth wrote: “I am honoured to represent @Golf_saudi as they acknowledge that women in sp or t is of paramount importance.
“Al t h o u g h cu l t u r a l l y t h e y a r e i n a d i f f e r e n t p l a c e t o some countries, they are doing ever ything they can to introduce girls and women i n t o s p o r t a n d l e a d h e a l t h y lifestyles.”
T h e t we e t wa s p o s t e d o n the same day the Saudi government, condemned for its h u ma n r i g h t s r e c o r d , e xe - cuted 37 people, according to Amnesty International.
B ooth’s post was criticised by many, including radio presenter Georgie Bingham, who wrote: “Crikey Carly, I think yo u mi g h t wa n t t o h e a d t o Google and [search] a bit of ‘women’s rights, S audi Arabia’ before announcing that.”
A n o t h e r f o l l o we r a d d e d : “‘ C u l t u r a l l y i n a d i f f e r e n t place’ as in, women just got the right to drive, are able to finally attend sporting events if they are seated separately from men, and where death p enalt y is executed against women rights activists. Cool, Carly.”
B o o t h , wh o s p e n d s a f a i r b i t o f t i m e i n t h e M i d d l e E a s t , p l aye d i n t h e p r o - a m in the inaugural S audi Arab i a I n t e r n a t i o n a l i n Fe b r uary and stayed on for the rest of the week as a guest of the organisers.
The following month, she was unveiled as an ambassador for S cottish Golf, having offered her services to the governing body to help grown the girls’ and women’s game in the sport’s birthplace.
Booth’s tweet about her latest tie-up led to calls on social media for her to be dropped by Scottish Golf, but, apparently, no such step will be taken.
I n a s t a t e m e n t , t h e S t Andrews-based organisation s a i d : “I n o r d e r t o g r ow t h e game, we need to make it more accessible and attainable for girls and young women.
“Carly’s commitment to her sport and her influential social media presence, where she promotes a positive lifest yle and healthy living to tens of thousands of girls, is helpful in changing perceptions around girls’ and women’s golf, in line with our strategy.”
A f t e r a l e a n s p e l l , B o o t h has shown signs of a return to form this season. She is in Mo r o c c o t h i s we e k f o r t h e LET’S Lalla Meryem Cup and o p e n ed wi t h a p a r 7 3 to b e handily placed after the opening round in Rabat.
Earlier this year, Aberdeen f o o t b a l l e r S c o t t M c K e n n a faced a similar backlash after announcing a deal to become an ambassador for the Trump International golf course in Aberdeenshire.
“Crikey Carly, I think you might want to head to Google and [search] a bit of ‘women’s rights, Saudi Arabia’ before announcing that”
GEORGIE BINGHAM