A merger between golf's warring factions has moved closer after a PGA Tour delegation met with US President Donald Trump this week, who was installed as Commander in Chief last month.
By RIATH AL-SAMARRAI, CHIEF SPORTS FEATURE WRITER
Published: 22:01 BST, 6 February 2025 | Updated: 22:04 BST, 6 February 2025
A merger between golf’s warring factions has moved closer after a PGA Tour delegation met with US President Donald Trump this week.
The talks between the Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, who bankroll the LIV circuit, have dragged on for 20 months, with the biggest hurdle presented by the US department of Justice over concerns that a collaboration would be in breach competition laws.
However, a significant step forward appears to have been made after Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and former Masters Champion Adam Scott visited the White House on Tuesday.
A PGA Tour statement, co-signed by Monahan, Tiger Woods and Scott read: 'We know golf fans are eagerly anticipating a resolution to negotiations with the Public Investment Fund and want to thank President Trump for his interest and long-time support of the game of golf.
‘We asked the President to get involved for the good of the game, the good of the country, and for all the countries involved. We are grateful that his leadership has brought us closer to a final deal, paving the way for reunification of men’s professional golf.’
During his campaign for re-election, Trump had claimed he could resolve the stand-off in less than ‘15 minutes’.
A merger between PGA AND LIV golf has moved closer after meeting with Donald Trump
A statement co-signed by PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan (pictured) was made public
Monahan's original announcement of a merger between the rival golf leagues shocked fans in June 2023, with no formal conclusion to the matter.
Trump is a dedicated golfer, using a recent weekend after being inaugurated as President for a second time to play golf at one of his courses.
Trump's Doral Resort course in Florida will host an LIV event in April, the first tournament to be hosted at a course owned by the sitting President.
The President was thought to have had a frosty relationship with the PGA after it stripped his New Jersey course in Bedminster of the PGA Championship in 2022 in the aftermath of the January 6 Capitol attack.
Trump diving into the sports world is nothing new, and it will continue as he is expected to attend Sunday's Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.