SAN DIEGO — PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan recently indicated that his discussion with former President Donald Trump has brought the tour “one step closer” to a potential agreement with the Saudi-backed LIV Golf. Monahan emphasized that the main focus is on reunification of the tour.
Monahan, alongside former Masters champion Adam Scott, met with Trump last Tuesday at the White House at the behest of the PGA Tour. Negotiations are underway with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which seeks to take a minority stake in the golf tour. The primary objective remains to consolidate the world’s top players, many of whom accepted lucrative offers from LIV Golf in the past few years.
“The only aspect that truly matters to fans and the sport is reunification,” Monahan expressed. Rory McIlroy, once a significant opponent of LIV within the player community, also supported the idea of restoring a unified golf environment fractured by the split. He stated that players who rejected substantial offers to remain loyal to the PGA Tour should embrace the vision of a unified sport.
“I believe everyone needs to just move on and recognize this as our starting point moving forward. We should focus ahead and not dwell on the past,” McIlroy stated. “What’s done is done, and while it’s unfortunate, the priority should be on how we reconcile and progress together for the benefit of the sport.”
McIlroy also noted that while LIV Golf disrupted traditional expectations by contributing nearly $2 billion to kickstart the league, it ultimately brought positive outcomes for everyone involved. He pointed to the recent Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines, which boasted a purse of $20 million, with the winner taking home $4 million, as a notable example of this beneficial change. It is among eight signature events on the PGA Tour calendar, with the FedEx Cup champion now earning a $25 million bonus.
“None of this would have happened had LIV not emerged,” McIlroy remarked. Trump has been a supporter of LIV since its inception, suggesting that PGA Tour players who chose loyalty would come to regret their decisions. He has previously hosted LIV events at his golf courses.
Monahan revealed that he played golf with Trump ten days after his election, and Tiger Woods had to miss the White House meeting due to a family tragedy but played golf with Trump on another occasion. McIlroy mentioned that he also golfed with Trump about a month ago, noting, “I thought our conversation was constructive. I discovered he isn’t fond of the LIV format, despite hosting their events.” McIlroy interpreted this as a sign that Trump may align more closely with the PGA Tour’s interests.
Monahan has confidence that he and Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of the Public Investment Fund, share a similar perspective. However, the timeline for finalizing any agreement remains uncertain. The initial framework for an agreement between the PGA Tour, the European tour, and the Public Investment Fund was disclosed on June 6, 2023, yet the steps toward this desired reunification are still ongoing.
“I believe you’re never truly close until a final deal is reached,” Monahan noted. “Progress is being made promptly, and there is an overarching excitement to bring this to fruition.” Currently, notable players such as U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, and Jon Rahm are only competing together with the likes of McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, and Xander Schauffele during the four major tournaments.
McIlroy, who stepped down from the tour board in November 2023 to join a transaction subcommittee involved in negotiations, expressed optimism about movement towards a unification as soon as next year. He mentioned that achieving full collaboration among players was also a goal for Strategic Sports Group, who have already invested $1.5 billion into the commercial side of PGA Tour Enterprises.
“I truly believe that by 2026, we could reach a point where we’re playing together more frequently,” McIlroy stated, adding that he envisions the European tour playing a larger role in the management of a global schedule. “This presents an opportunity where, by 2026, we may not fully realize our vision, but we will hopefully begin seeing progress toward that goal.”
