Tiger Woods, along with PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and player director Adam Scott, met with President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, marking the second meeting in recent weeks aimed at addressing the rift caused by the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit.
Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia, was also present during this significant meeting. The PGA Tour expressed optimism through a statement signed by Monahan, Woods, and Scott, indicating that discussions regarding the reunification of golf have commenced.
The PGA Tour assured fans that further details would be provided when suitable, stating, “We are committed to moving as quickly as possible.” The statement highlighted a shared enthusiasm for the sport and emphasized a desire to see the best players competing together more frequently.
During a Black History Month event, Trump acknowledged the presence of Woods, Scott, and Monahan, remarking that “interesting discussions” had taken place. Woods, wearing the Presidential Medal of Freedom he received from Trump in 2019, joined the president on stage, drawing cheers from the audience.
This meeting follows another one on February 4, which Woods had to leave due to the passing of his mother. Notably, Woods played golf with Trump on February 9, indicating a growing connection between Woods and Trump.
During the CBS broadcast of the Genesis Invitational, Woods mentioned the next meeting would be crucial, expressing optimism that “things are going to heal quickly.” He stated, “The best players want to play together, and we’re going to make that happen,” highlighting the overwhelming desire among fans for top talent to compete as a unified group.
LIV Golf, which made its debut in June 2022, attracted a number of prominent golfers including Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, and Jon Rahm, with some players reportedly receiving signing bonuses exceeding $100 million.
In June 2023, the PGA Tour, PIF, and the European tour (also known as DP World Tour) formed a collaborative agreement, but it lapsed by the end of the year due to antitrust inquiries from the Justice Department.
At the start of 2024, the PGA Tour partnered with the Strategic Sports Group, led by Fenway Sports, to integrate a $1.5 billion investment into PGA Tour Enterprises. Concurrently, PIF is in talks to become a minority stakeholder, although Monahan emphasized that the focus remains on facilitating gatherings of the top golfers.
While the specifics of this collaboration remain vague, Monahan has articulated a vision for a singular tour where elite players would compete together. He clarified that the notion of “one tour” signifies reunification with LIV Golf, reiterating the intent for the top athletes to be showcased more often.
Currently, players from LIV can only compete against the likes of Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy during the four major tournaments, with limited access to European tour events as well.
Any potential agreement with PIF would need approval from the board governing PGA Tour Enterprises, the commercial entity that was born out of the June 2023 agreement.
