• PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and player director Adam Scott met with President Trump to discuss a potential deal with LIV Golf.
• Trump's involvement is viewed as a key factor in moving negotiations forward with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF).
• The PGA Tour aims to finalize an investment agreement, fostering a unification in professional golf.
• Discussions come after the original merger deadline was passed at the end of 2023, highlighting ongoing complexities in the situation.
• LIV Golf has attracted several top players from the PGA Tour with lucrative contracts since its inception.

The PGA Tour advances towards a potential agreement with LIV Golf, largely attributed to recent discussions with former President Donald Trump. The meeting, which took place earlier this week, involved PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and player director Adam Scott, who expressed gratitude for Trump's willingness to intervene in the negotiations with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia, the financial backer of LIV 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,” stated the PGA Tour's leadership, which includes renowned golfer Tiger Woods. Trump's participation is seen as instrumental in bridging the longstanding divide in professional golf. The discussions follow a tumultuous year marked by failed deadlines and investigations from the U.S. Department of Justice regarding the potential merger of the PGA Tour with LIV Golf and the PIF. The initial framework agreement was established in June 2023, but subsequent developments delayed progress toward a final deal. LIV Golf has been in operation since 2022, attracting prominent golfers such as Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm by offering substantial payout structures. The competition has significantly altered the landscape of professional golf, leading to suspensions for players who shifted allegiances. The PGA Tour is now focused on formalizing negotiations with the PIF to become a minority investor in its commercial entity, which is crucial for establishing a unified golfing body. As discussions continue, the PGA Tour has also begun partnerships with other investment entities, including a notable $1.5 billion investment from Strategic Sports Group. This investment is expected to bolster the Tour’s financial stability as it pursues a harmonious resolution to the ongoing rift fueled by LIV Golf's emergence. Trump, an avid golfer and owner of several golf courses that have hosted LIV events, remarked previously on his ability to “close the deal in 15 minutes,” underscoring the urgency and complexity of restoring cohesion to the sport. With Trump traveling in the coming weeks, including a planned visit to the Middle East, the PGA Tour remains hopeful that his influence will help finalize negotiations that could reshape the entirety of men's professional golf. For further details, visit BBC, AP News, and The Hill.