Top Pro Sports League Issues Statement Thanking President Trump

On Thursday, the PGA Tour publicly acknowledged President Donald Trump’s role in ongoing negotiations to reunify men’s professional golf, crediting his leadership for helping the sport move closer to a resolution.

In an official statement released Thursday, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and player director Adam Scott confirmed they met with Trump earlier this week as the Tour continues discussions with the Saudi-backed Public Investment Fund (PIF). The meeting, which took place on Tuesday, was the 47th president’s first publicly disclosed involvement in the high-stakes negotiations between the PGA and LIV Golf.

“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,” the statement read.

“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.”

Trump, a longtime golf enthusiast and course owner, has previously expressed support for LIV Golf, hosting several of its events at his properties. His involvement now appears to be focused on helping broker a deal that could bring the PGA Tour and LIV Golf under a unified structure after years of legal battles and division within the sport.

Sam Burns, a vocal supporter of Trump and member of the tour’s PAC, shared his positive outlook on Trump’s involvement. “He obviously loves golf, loves to play, wants the best for the game and I think he’s going to try to do everything he can to help negate some of the issues that we’ve had with the Department of Justice, so I think he’ll do a good job of giving us some more leeway from that end,” he said.

BEDMINSTER,NJ-JULY 31,2022: Tucker Carlson (C) jokes with Former President Trump (R) at the 16th Hole during the final LIV Golf Tournament held at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster,NJ.

LIV and the PGA have been at the center of one of the biggest shake-ups in professional golf history. LIV Golf, backed by Saudi Arabia’s PIF, launched in 2022 as a direct competitor to the PGA Tour, offering massive prize purses, guaranteed contracts, and a unique team-based format with 54-hole events instead of the traditional 72.

The league quickly lured top talent by offering lucrative contracts—Phil Mickelson reportedly signed for $200 million, while other stars like Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka secured nine-figure deals. The aggressive recruitment strategy led to a deep divide in the sport, with many traditionalists criticizing LIV as a “sportswashing” effort by Saudi Arabia to improve its global image.

In response, the PGA Tour took a hard stance, banning LIV players from its events and increasing prize money to retain its stars. The tour also strengthened its ties with the DP World Tour (formerly the European Tour) to consolidate competition.

BEDMINSTER,NJ-JULY 29,2022: Phil Mickelson (L) talks to his Caddie at the 16th Tee during the LIV Golf Tournament held at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster,NJ.

Lawsuits followed as LIV players challenged their suspensions while the PGA Tour accused LIV of undermining the sport. The legal battles and public disputes created a volatile atmosphere, with players, fans, and sponsors caught in the middle.

Then, in June 2023, the golf world was stunned by an unexpected announcement: the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and LIV Golf had agreed to merge under a new entity funded by Saudi Arabia’s PIF. The deal blindsided many PGA Tour players who had stayed loyal and turned down massive LIV offers.

Although the framework of the merger is still being worked out, the agreement signaled a dramatic shift in professional golf. LIV Golf continues to operate with its own events and team-based structure, while the PGA Tour seeks additional private investment to reduce its reliance on Saudi funding.

With Trump’s reported mediation efforts, the PGA Tour appears to be inching closer to completing the deal, potentially ending one of the most polarizing chapters in golf history.