>> jimmy: i want to thank oprah winfrey and chromeo. i want to apologize to matt damon. we did run out of time for him. "nightline" is next. thanks for watching, good night! ♪ this is "nightline." >> byron: tonight, the controversial liv golf. >> we are about to party! let's do this! >> byron: the rowdy tour rocking the world of sports. >> we're not from the country club. we love the game of golf. we're trying to have fun with it. >> byron: luring away top talent

from the pga with loads of cash. >> what role did financial compensation play in your decision? >> i'd be lying if i said it wasn't a big part of it. >> byron: the outrage over its backer, saudi arabia, and its troubling history sportswashed from the conversation. >> saudi arabia has been able to distract from its human rights record, killing and dismemberment of kamal khashoggi. >> byron: what's behind the sudden interest in golf. girls of the world. our linsey davis, the emmy award-winning journalist and anchor on her new children's book paying homage to trailblazers like carole simpson. >> i felt growing up and seeing her on "world news" on the weekend, she was planting a seed for what was possible. >> byron: lindsay's message to other girls out there. and the nsync reunion. fans who thought the boy band said bye bye bye to performing together got a big surprise. ♪ ain't no lie bye bye bye ♪

(screams) bleeding gums are serious, jamie. dr. garcia? woah. they're a sign of bacterial infection. crest gum detoxify's antibacterial fluoride works below the gumline to help heal gums and stop bleeding. crest saves the day. crest. - bye, bye cough. - later chest congestion. hello 12 hours of relief. 12 hours!! mucinex dm gives you 12 hours of relief from chest congestion and any cough, day or night. mucinex dm. it's comeback season. now try mucinex instasoothe sore throat medicated drops. business. it's not a nine-to-five proposition. it's all day and into the night. it's all the things that keep this world turning.

the go-tos that keep us going. the places we cheer. and check in. they all choose the advanced network solutions and round the clock partnership from comcast business. see why comcast business powers more small businesses than anyone else. get started for $49.99 a month plus ask how to get up to an $800 prepaid card. don't wait- call today. ♪ >> byron: good evening. thank you for joining us. on its face, the liv golf tournament series financed by the saudi government might seem

like a long overdue facelift to a sport seemingly in need of a new look. but the machine behind the liv suggests something far more troubling. here's abc's ashan singh. >> reporter: this is something you've never seen before. >> we are about to party! >> let's do this! >> reporter: it isn't your typical golf tournament. this is liv golf. >> we're not from the country club. we love the game of golf. we're trying to have fun with it. >> reporter: it's flipped the sport on its head. forcing the pga tour into a fight for survival. the celebrity investors getting tangled in the fray. the likes of lebron james and even drake. big investors coming to try and save an organization that for the longest time looked like this. >> jack nicklaus and arnold palmer meet in a match that

dangles $50,000 in first prize ton -- >> traditionally, pga events are quieter. golf etiquette is kind what was you would think. liv golf seeks to reinvent professional golf and make it more compelling to a larger audience. it's new, it's disruptive, incredibly controversial. >> reporter: that's because behind liv golf is one of the world's largest sovereign wealth funds backed by a country with a troubling history of political repression, restricting women's rights, and the murder of saudi journalist jamal khashoggi. >> it's the start of pro tour paying several golfers millions to leave the pga tour, but the money comes directly from the saudi arabian government. >> saudi arabia's been able to distract from its human rights record, killing and disrememberment of jamal khashoggi. >> reporter: saudi arabia has invested $2 billion into this new golf venture alone. and it's triggering outrage across the nation. some calling it "sportswashing."

>> sportswashing is a form of information manipulation where big governments and big corporations included use sports-related content and the media stories tied to sports in order to alter the information that reaches their target audiences. saudi arabia can use the media cycle of good sports stories in the united states to push out all those negative stories. >> reporter: it's bankrolled by one of the largest investors in global sports. the public investment fund backed by the saudi arabian government. the pif owns a minority stake in disney, the parent company of abc news. and they have money to blow. attracting the biggest names, pushing players from the prestigious pga tour with unmatchable, lucrative deals. >> what role did financial compensation play in your decision? >> i'll be lying if i said it wasn't a big part of it. >> reporter: someone hsaid

financing that it comes from saudi arabia. >> when when you look at every industry, there's people that invest that you might not agree with. >> reporter: some people say it's not distracting them from the truth. >> the mounting pressure for saudi arabia to explain the death of a journalist. >> how can you take hundreds of millions of dollars -- >> reporter: you think this is a blatant attempt at sportswashing? >> 100% the definition of sportswashing. >> reporter: this type of saudi takeover isn't just happening in the world of golf. from mma to soccer to cycling and even formula 1, the kingdom's influence continues to grow across the global sports industry. according to global swf, an organization that tracks sovereign wealth funds, pif has invested $13.5 billion in over 20 sports since its insession. the crown prince, mohammad bin salman, known as mbs, on fox news -- >> whether it's sportswashing,

we'll continue to do sportswashing. >> reporter: two-time masters champion bubba watson is one of the many high-profile players who left the pga tour in 2022 and accepted a multi-year contract from liv golf, and he has no regrets. what do you say to the people who have been critical of liv and what they're trying to do with the sport here? >> i'm doing something that's fun, energetic, and new. if you're going to grow the game of golf, this is the way, i believe, to do that. so for me, it's all about me and my family. so that's all i focus on. >> reporter: the 12-time winner on the pga tour joined liv golf at the very beginning, jumping into an unfolding proxy war that started when pga commissioner jay monahan dropped a bombshell announcement on cbs. >> we made a decision last week to suspend those players. and they're no longer eligible for tournament play. >> pga tour's first reaction to liv was very strong and very

anti-. and jay monahan, the commissioner of pga tour, said anyone who plays on the liv golf tour will effectively be banned from playing on the pga tour. >> reporter: was there any shock, given how long you'd been a part of the pga? did it feel like betrayal in some sort of way? >> i actually -- i threw in my resignation. so they suspended me even though i was out. i guess i put in my two-week notice. it's the same job, just a different company. i have nothing against any of those guys that stayed. don't have anything against the critics. that's their opinions. >> reporter: while fellow top golfers dustin johnson, brooks koepka, phil mickelson were joining the new league, pga veterans were coming to the defense of the pga. like current number two golfer in the world, rory mcilroy, telling "bbc sports" he would never join the league. >> if liv golf was the last place to play golf, i would retire. >> reporter: tiger woods

reportedly turned down $800 million from the saudis to join liv, bashing players on cbs who left the pga tour. >> i think that what they've done is they've turned our -- their back on what has allowed them to get to this position. >> reporter: the backlash increased as fans discovered the money was coming from that state-sponsored investment fund. those early liv golfers being grilled on "sky sports golf." >> there's no danger you're also being seen as a tool of sportswashing? a saudi stooge? >> i don't condone human rights violations. i don't know how i can be any more clear. >> saudi arabia obviously has a horrific track record with human rights, with human atrocities, that make people very uncomfortable. >> reporter: at first, the pga wanted to remind the public of that human rights record in an attempt to stop liv. even allying themselves with the families of 9/11 victims who had been warning against saudi arabia's investment in american sports. >> some of the early criticisms that the pga tour launched

against the liv golf tour were couched in moral terms. they latched on to the advocacy of the 9/11 families united, that the saudi government had this connection to the 9/11 attacks, and therefore, could not be trusted to be an actor in the american economy or american society. >> it was about, you know, hey, we're all on the same page here. i can share what i know about the kingdom and their involvement in september 11th. >> reporter: the kingdom denies those claims, saying? their most recent statement, "any allegation that saudi arabia is complicit in the september 11th attacks is categorically false." jay monahan publicly aligned himself with the families affected on cbs. >> as it relates to the families of 9/11, i have two families that are close to me that lost loved ones. i would ask any player that has left or any player that would ever consider leaving, have you ever had to apologize for being a member of the pga tour? >> reporter: what do you say to

people who do say that liv is providing shade for its financial backers, and who say that this is just a form of sportswashing? >> i have no comment on that. i'm just -- again, point to the power what was we're doing, the fact that we're attracting a young audience, and ushering the sport into the future. that is good for the game of golf. that is good for sports. >> reporter: after over a year of tension and mounting lawsuits between rival leagues, an ironic twist. the historic organization of the pga caved, joining forces with liv golf. the pga says their back was against the wall, bleeding out money, and with big players abandoning ship. they needed capital, and they needed it fast. monaghan told "the new york times" that's why they took the deal. >> it was very clear that the pga tour was facing an existential threat from the $700 billion sovereign wealth fund. and that sovereign wealth fund was determined to control the

future of our sport. >> reporter: monaghan announcing the new partnership side by side with the governor of the pif, yasser al ramain on cbs. >> just this picture alone is going to surprise a lot of people. >> it's a historical day for the pga tour and the game of golf. there's been a lot of tension in our sport the last couple of years. but what we're talking about today is coming together to unify the game of golf and to do so under one umbrella. >> there had been so much rhetoric between the two leagues, between the two tours, it had been so combative, so fiery, so hostile. and for the announcement to come that, you know, the pif and the pga tour are coming together after everything that had been said was purely shocking. >> reporter: a decision many never saw coming. >> jay monahan, the head of the pga tour, really let the families and 9/11 victims down,

really let folks who care about the game of golf down. >> reporter: no one felt more deceived than the families of the 9/11 victims. >> we thought the pga tour shared our values, shared our commitment to never, ever being in business with the kingdom. that's the way it felt. until you wake up one day, and they've turned on you also. you know? >> byron: our thanks to ashan. for more on this story, watch the full episode of "impact by nightline," "power play: the booming business of sportswashing" now streaming on hulu. when we return, girls of the world. my "nightline" coanchor juju chang sits down with abc's linsey davis with her new book chang sits down with abc's linsey davis with her new book and its powerful message. ♪ things are getting clearer...♪ ( ♪ ) ♪ i feel free... ♪ ♪ to bear my skin, yeah that's all me. ♪

♪ nothing is everything ♪ ( ♪) with skyrizi, 3 out of 4 people achieved 90% clearer skin at 4 months. and most people were clearer even at 5 years. skyrizi is just 4 doses a year, after 2 starter doses. serious allergic reactions... ...and an increased risk of infections... ...or a lower ability to fight them may occur. tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms,... ...had a vaccine, or plan to. ♪ nothing and me go hand-in-hand, ♪ ♪ nothing on my skin, that's my new plan. ♪ ♪ nothing is everything ♪ now's the time,... ...ask your doctor about skyrizi,... ...the number one... ...dermatologist-prescribed biologic in psoriasis. learn how abbvie could help you save. (smelling) ew. gotta get rid of this. ♪tell me why♪ because it stinks. ♪have you tried downy rinse and refresh♪ it helps remove odors 3x better than detergent alone. it worked guys! ♪yeahhhh♪

downy rinse and refresh. skin-carving next level hydration? new neutrogena hydro boost water cream. a vital boost of nine times more hydration* to boost your skin's barrier for quenched, dewy skin that's full of life. neutrogena. hydro boost. my hair was thinning all around my hairline. my dermatologist recommended nutrafol. it's 100 % drug—free and clinically tested. my hair is longer, thicker. nutrafol is life—changing for me. get growing at nutrafol.com. ah mornings! cough? congestion? i'm feeling better. all in one and done with new mucinex kickstart. headache? better now. new mucinex kickstart gives all-in-one and done relief with a morning jolt of instant cooling sensation. it's comeback season.

saves us 5% on the things we need. 5% off. - 5% off. 5% of. and, as loyalty members, we get points toward mylowe's money for the things we want. oh, we want this. the all new mylowe's rewars loyalty program is her. download the app to joi, earn and save toda.

♪ >> juju: welcome back. our next guest is an emmy award-winning journalist, anchor of "abc news live" prime, world news on sunday, dear friend and colleague of mine, "new york times" best-selling author out with her sixth children's book. when do you find the time? >> i think whatever you're passionate about, you make the time. >> juju: there you go. you're obviously an enormously successful pioneer, in your own right, journalist. what drew you to write children's novels, especially this series? >> we're storytellers. often we're talking about mayhem, missing, murdered, chaos. especially when my son was starting to get old enough to see what i do, "i want to watch,

i want to see what you do." i felt like, uh, maybe not. >> juju: maybe a highly redacted version. >> yes. i feel the news is heavy and dark, quite often. this was a way for me to tell the good news, the uplifting and joyful stories. he kind of game me the first idea, unbeknownst to him, of what i was going to write about. >> juju: this is "girls of the world." i want to turn the page to anchor girl/anchorwoman, as you are. you think carole simpson, the former anchor of "world news tonight" weekend, the first african american woman to anchor a major network news broadcast. >> it appears there may be a reasonable chance for peace after a year of brutal civil war in bosnia. >> juju: you thank her and acknowledge her? >> sure. that was important for me. in order to be it, you have to see it. carole existed at the time she didn't see anyone else who

looked like her doing what she ultimately did. for me, i felt growing up and seeing her on world news on the weekends, that's just an option, you can do that. sublimb nally, she was planting a seed in what was possible. i fit i owed her that sense of gratitude. >> i felt that way about connie chung. "girls of the world" celebrates equality and fairness. we see girls as artists and mechanics and doing things in the world. why is it so important to portray it in that way? >> i felt like we need to affirm our girls, we need to plant these seeds of positivity. we're strong and we're brave and courageous. >> juju: we also need to read this book to our boys. >> i've read this book with my son so that he'll get that message of, you know, my cousins, the women around me, my classmates, are capable, are equals. >> juju: i know this about you. you ar woman of faith. and that this book was published by xander kids, a christian

publishing company. >> yes. >> juju: tell me about how your faith informs your storytelling, especially with these books? >> i feel like my foundation is in faith. i feel a constant theme, a sublimb mall message of faith, whatever your belief is. that's one thing i'm happy about in the illustrations. we're not just bringing everybody into the tent with regard to skin color, but also with religion. whatever your background might be. we have two girls in wheelchairs, a girl with a prosthetic leg. it's very inclusive. i do feel like there is a thread of faith and belief in yourself in all of my books. >> juju: i know that you askasked, who inspires you? your caregiver? >> yes. >> juju: as working mom, caregivers are so important. tell us about miss hester. >> she came when i was 2 years old with the thought that she was going to change my diapers. i felt like by the time she left, she had changed my life. she was really my best friend growing up. she really was kind of like that quintessential person who kind

of shook you by the shoulders, said "you're good enough. whatever you want to do, you can do." i think that we can't have enough of that kind of reinforcement in our lives. >> juju: the book nods to the challenges in the world that we're facing right now. you write that it's time to make right all the things that are wrong. why does the world need girls to use their voice and their power? >> we still haven't had a woman at the helm of our country. the united states always talks about how we're so advanced. there's so many other countries who are way ahead of us. they're already had female prime ministers, female presidents. when you think about the candidates, the people who put their names into the ring, in order to be considered? when we have a woman who's running for president, they're an outlier. they're an anomaly. i don't know what the mindset is, but i do think that mindset needs to change. >> juju: i love it. that's an excellent message to end on. linsey, thanks for joining us. >> juju, thanks so much for having me. >> juju: congrats again. >> thank you. >> juju: you can find "girls of the world" wherever books are

sold. >> byron: our thanks to juju and linsey. when we come back, nsync. fans who thought the chances were gone of seeing the group together again, we've got good news. ♪ gone baby you're gone ♪ ♪ baby girl you're gone you're gone you're ♪ symptoms define me. emerge as you. with tremfya®, most people saw 90% clearer skin at 4 months... ...and the majority stayed clearer, at 5 years. serious allergic reactions may occur. tremfya® may increase your risk of infections and lower your ability to fight them. tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms or if you had a vaccine or plan to. emerge as you. emerge tremfyant®. ask you doctor about tremfya®. that grimy film on your teeth? dr. g? (♪) it's actually the buildup of plaque bacteria which can cause cavities. most toothpastes quit working in minutes.

but crest pro-health's antibacterial fluoride protects all day. it stops cavities before they start... crest. - bye, bye cough. - later chest congestion. hello 12 hours of relief. 12 hours!! mucinex dm gives you 12 hours of relief from chest congestion and any cough, day or night. mucinex dm. it's comeback season. now try mucinex instasoothe sore throat medicated drops. i'll be honest. by the end of the day, my floors...yeesh. but who has the time to clean? that's why i love my swiffer wetjet. it's a quick and easy way to get my floors clean. wetjet absorbs and locks grime deep inside. look at that! swiffer wetjet. when you put in the effort, but it starts to frizz... you skipped a step. tresemmé silk serum. use before styling for three days of weightlessly smooth hair that frizz can't beat. new tresemmé keratin smooth collection.

(box thuds) (water boils) (packet tears) (tea bag clanks) (water pours) - listening to people that drink bigelow tea is so important to my family, because making that perfect cup, it's the reason we do what we do hi, guys! - hi! - hey! - so what are you guys drinking? - constant comment. - when i'm drinking bigelow tea, it's just a moment for me. it's just me time. - that's what a cup of tea is. - it is. - a moment for you, someone you love. - aw! (customer sighs) - it tastes really great. - yes! it was always bigelow tea - wow! that's what my family hopes for. cheers. - cheers. (bright upbeat music)

♪ >> byron: finally tonight, nsync back on stage together. ♪ i want you back ♪ >> byron: nsync fans have been saying 80 want you back" for

years. last night those pleas were answered at justin timberlake's show in l.a. it was the first time the five members of the wildly popular boy band performed on stage together in more than a decade. and the entrance of j.c., joey, chris, and lance alongside justin was a joyous shock to the crowd. they unlettered a medley of their greatest hits. ♪ bye bye bye ♪ ♪ bye-bye ♪ >> byron: including "bye bye bye," "gone," "and even their new song, "paradise." lance bass later posting a performance on instagram. ♪ i been waiting forever ♪ ♪ waiting for this moment ♪ >> byron: that's "nightline" for this evening. catch full episodes on