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In the wake of LIV Golf’s decline, former President Donald Trump has voiced his opinion that players from the Saudi-backed breakaway tour should be reintegrated into the PGA Tour. Trump argues that these golfers deserve a chance to compete on a unified stage, reinforcing the spirit of the sport.
Speculation about the financial sustainability of the LIV Golf league has intensified amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly with the ongoing conflict involving Iran. Such uncertainties have raised questions about the league’s future and its ability to continue operations.
The situation took a turn earlier this week when LIV Golf announced the cancellation of an upcoming event in Louisiana. Shortly thereafter, on Wednesday, the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, which has been the financial backbone of the league, disclosed that their support would only extend through the 2026 season.
Reflecting on these developments, Trump shared with reporters his perspective on the need for unity in the golfing world, stating, “I do believe that all of the golfers should be playing against each other.” He further remarked, “They were viewing something as a monopoly, but it’s swaying away. It should be the opposite of a monopoly.”
‘They were viewing something as a monopoly, but it’s swaying away. It should be the opposite of a monopoly.
President Donald Trump wants LIV Golf rebels to be able to return to the PGA Tour
Trump, who previously tried brokering a merger between the two tours, expressed his desire to see the top golfers playing against each other again (pictured with Bryson DeChambeau)
Trump says he hopes to see Scottie Scheffler (L) and Rory McIlroy (R) playing LIV’s best again
‘I want to see Rory [McIlroy] playing Bryson DeChambeau. I want to see big Jon Rahm playing Scottie, who is so great. Scottie Scheffler is great.Â
‘They have great players on LIV, but it’s almost like people want to see that. That’s why the Masters was so good because you saw everybody together.
‘The Tour wants to have the best players. You can’t have the best player that they’re boycotting now. They may do something, you know, a little bit, but they’ll all be back on tour and it’ll be great. I don’t know what’s happening with LIV.Â
‘I’m not sure what’s happening with LIV, but they are playing at my course in two weeks on the Potomac, beautiful course. But right now [the PGA Tour] at Doral, which I own.’
LIV’s Virginia event, which is set to be held at Trump National Golf Club in the DC suburb of Potomac Falls, has not been cancelled at the time of publishing.
This week, the PGA Tour returns to the Trump-owned Doral golf club for the Cadillac Championship – one of the tour’s signature events.
When the rebel golfers initially joined LIV, the PGA Tour imposed suspensions which barred them from playing in Tour sanctioned events.
But some players were offered a chance to take part in a ‘Returning Member Program’ in January. The program allows for the return of those who won the Players Championship or any of the majors from 2022 to 2025.
Former LIV star Brooks Koepka is playing on the PGA Tour again as part of a Returning Member Program – while he is also facing severe financial penalties in order to take part this year
Other LIV stars, like Patrick Reed, are currently serving one-year suspensions before returning
LIV star Bryson DeChambeau previously pledged to stay with the tour ‘as long as LIV is here’
While Brooks Koepka accepted the offer to return – suffering severe financial penalties in order to do so – golfers like DeChambeau, Rahm and Cameron Smith all declined the offer before the February 2 deadline.Â
It’s unclear if the PGA Tour plans to offer the same terms to those three golfers – or any others who with to return – now that LIV is in financial limbo.
As for those who don’t meet the criteria for the Returning Member Program, there may be other options for coming back to the tour.
Patrick Reed, for example, is currently serving a one-year ban before his return. Golfers Henrik Stenson and Pat Perez are also under similar yearlong bans dating to their last LIV event. Both are playing on the PGA Tour Champions – formerly the Senior Tour.
According to ESPN, factors which could influence how the PGA Tour brings back specific players may include past performance, whether or not the player resigned their membership before leaving, whether he played on tour or had status at all and whether he was involved in the antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour.
Among the notable names in that lawsuit includes DeChambeau, who previously said in an interview, ‘as long as LIV is here, I would figure out a way for it to make sense.’Â