In a major development that could reshape the landscape of professional golf, President Donald Trump has predicted that LIV Golf players will eventually return to the PGA Tour. His comments came just hours after Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced it will stop funding the breakaway league at the end of the 2026 season.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump emphasized that the sport's biggest stars belong on the same stage. "I want to see Rory (McIlroy) playing Bryson DeChambeau. I want to see big Jon Rahm playing Scottie Scheffler," he said. "That's why the Masters was so good, because you saw everybody together." The unified field at Augusta National earlier this year offered a tantalizing glimpse of what golf could look like without the ongoing rift between the two tours.
With LIV's future now hanging in the balance, Trump was unequivocal about what comes next. "They'll all be back on tour, and it'll be great," he said. The president noted that fans have made their preference clear, adding, "It's almost like people want to see that. The tour wants to have the best players. You can't have the best players if they're boycotting."
The timing of Trump's remarks is significant. On the same day, the PIF confirmed it will end its funding of LIV Golf, stating in a release that the investment required "is no longer consistent with the fund's investment strategy." Since its launch in 2022, Saudi Arabia has poured more than $5 billion into the league. However, the financial pressure has intensified due to the ongoing Iran War, which has forced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and cut Saudi oil exports by nearly half.
Trump acknowledged uncertainty about LIV's immediate future while stopping short of calling for the tour to fold entirely. "I don't know what's happening with LIV," he said. "I am not sure what's happening with LIV."
The president has financial interests on both sides of professional golf. The PGA Tour's Cadillac Championship is currently being played at his Doral course in Miami, while LIV is scheduled to hold events at Trump-owned courses in the coming months. As the sport awaits a final resolution, one thing is clear: the era of divided professional golf may soon be coming to an end.