President-elect Donald Trump expressed confidence in his ability to facilitate a deal between the PGA Tour and the Saudi investors behind LIV Golf, claiming it would only take about 15 minutes to finalize such an agreement. His efforts began with a four-hour golf session alongside PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan at Trump International Golf Club located in West Palm Beach, Florida, as reported by The Washington Post.
The PGA Tour confirmed the golf outing, stating, “President-Elect Trump has always been a champion of the game of golf and Commissioner Monahan was honored to accept his invitation to play at Trump International. The President-Elect and the Commissioner share a love for the game, and the Commissioner enjoyed their time together.”
Following the golf match, Trump attended a UFC heavyweight championship event in New York, where he was accompanied by high-profile figures like Elon Musk and Yasir al-Rumayyan, who is the governor of the Saudi Public Investment Fund that has backed the competing LIV Tour, deepening the divide within professional golf.
In a recent social outing, Monahan and al-Rumayyan played golf together during the Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland on the European tour. However, the PGA Tour has remained tight-lipped about the discussions surrounding potential collaborations between these organizations, with Monahan offering no details even to essential stakeholders, aiming to keep negotiations under wraps.
The PGA Tour and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) came to an agreement on June 6, 2023, permitting the Saudi sovereign wealth fund to invest in a new commercial venture initiated by the PGA Tour. This agreement drew scrutiny from the Justice Department, and while it included a December 31 deadline, discussions are ongoing. The PGA Tour also secured an initial $1.5 million investment deal with Strategic Sports Group, which has the potential to expand to $3 billion.
The conflict in golf continues to intensify, as the PGA Tour has barred players associated with LIV, such as U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, and Jon Rahm, from participating in its tournaments. Moreover, the top players in the sport only come together four times annually for major events.
Trump expressed optimism during a podcast with Jim Gray and Bill Belichick just before the elections, claiming that it might take him only around 15 minutes to finalize a deal regarding LIV and the PGA Tour. He acknowledged that while there are more significant issues to address, having a unified tour with the best players should be a priority.
In the past, Trump’s golf courses have hosted several LIV events, and despite early support for the league, none of his facilities are listed on the 2025 tournament schedule, which remains incomplete. He had previously advised PGA Tour players on social media in 2022, warning them to seize the financial opportunities provided by LIV before a merger potentially changed the landscape.
Beyond the investment issues, any agreement will have to reconcile the loyalties shown by players who remained with the PGA Tour versus those who joined LIV Golf for substantial signing bonuses. The position of the Justice Department on any proposed deal also poses a significant hurdle.
Rory McIlroy remarked that having Trump take office shouldn’t hinder progress on negotiations and noted, “He might be able to,” referencing Trump’s connection to Elon Musk, whom McIlroy describes as possibly the “smartest man in the world.” However, McIlroy remains skeptical about the idea that a solution could be reached in just 15 minutes, recognizing that the complexities involved are likely underestimated.
“I think from the outside looking in, it’s probably a little less complicated than it actually is,” McIlroy explained, acknowledging Trump’s longstanding relationships with Saudi Arabia and his love for golf. However, he concluded with an uncertain note, stating, “So, maybe. Who knows?”
