Trump Weighs In On PGA-LIV Merger Talks, Calling It A 'Great Thing'

Donald Trump, ahead of hosting a LIV Golf event at his Trump National Doral Golf Club in Miami, has once again voiced his support for a potential merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. The former president, who has been described as a "facilitator" in ongoing talks between the two golf tours, shared his thoughts on the matter during his trip to South Florida.

"Ultimately, hopefully, the two tours are going to merge. That’ll be good. I’m involved in that, too," Trump said, expressing optimism about the ongoing discussions. "But hopefully we’re going to get the two tours to merge. You have the PGA Tour and the LIV Tour. And I think having them merge would be a great thing." Bold words from a man who never shies away from playing the role of dealmaker.

The LIV roster boasts some of the sport's biggest names, including Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson, and Dustin Johnson — all players Trump described as "some of the best in the world." Back in February, the PGA Tour acknowledged Trump for his involvement, stating that he had "gotten involved for the good of the game." And according to PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan, Trump's participation has significantly bolstered discussions at the highest levels of both organizations.

Monahan said last month, "President Trump is a lifelong golf fan. He believes strongly in the game’s power and potential, and he has been exceedingly generous in his time and influence to help bring a deal together. He wants to see the game reunified. We want to see the game reunified, and his involvement has made the prospect of reunification very real." While these are glowing words for Trump's contributions, the commissioner also acknowledged that "hurdles remain" in the path to a merger.

It appears that both sides are considering ways to integrate LIV Golf into the PGA Tour platform, with Monahan even envisioning a scenario where Public Investment Fund governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan might join the Tour's board. However, Monahan stressed that any potential deal must preserve the strength of the PGA's platform and its momentum with fans and partners.

Trump himself has echoed optimism that the two tours will eventually reach an agreement, saying, "They’re gonna have to get together. They’ve had a lot of discussion back and forth. They both are meaning well, and a deal will ultimately happen. I think it will happen pretty quickly. It would be nice to see the best golfers play against each other."

He added, "They are all great people, and they want to work it out. So, if I can help work it out... I don’t get anything out of it. I can help them work it out. I just think golf — it’s very much an individual sport, and you want to see the best players playing against each other and not playing in two different locations."

Trump's golf courses have been a frequent venue for LIV events, though the last time they hosted a PGA event was in the mid-2010s. Whether this merger materializes or not, it's clear Trump's influence in the golfing world is far from fading.