As the PGA tour and the Saudi-backed LIV Golf are in talks again to merge into a golf conglomerate, one entity has much to gain if the merger goes through: the president’s golf courses.
President Donald Trump for the second time this month has hosted key negotiators at the White House to try to create an agreement between the two organizations, which have been at odds with each other for years.
Last week’s meeting was particularly notable, as both Jay Monahan, the PGA Tour commissioner, who previously visited the Oval Office in early February, Yasir al-Rumayyan, LIV’s chairman and the head of the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund that funds the organization, and Tiger Woods came together.
The meeting was at least the third time in 16 days that Trump has spoken with al-Rumayyan, according to a New York Times report.
“If the leader of the free world is spending his time on golf, [then] I am very happy,” LIV’s CEO Scott O’Neil said in an interview with Al Arabiya News. “This game matters. It gives values that this world needs more of right now. It brings us together with connectivity.”
Earlier this month, the PGA Tour said it had asked Trump to help it broker a deal with the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund.
“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,” read the PGA Tour statement. “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’s real estate properties have vast financial gains to be made, should the merger go through and the PGA begin hosting tournaments at his properties again.
Following the Jan. 6 attacks, the PGA tour stopped hosting tournaments at Trump golf courses. Trump, an avid golfer, has been eager to bring the sport back to his turf. During Trump’s turbulent four years out of power, the Saudis were one of the only countries willing to still work with him.
LIV, upon coming onto the scene began, largely played at Trump properties. Trump Bedminster and Trump Doral venues were large parts of the first two LIV seasons. During the 2024 election, they did not schedule any events on Trump properties.
In 2025, the organization is back to playing on Trump properties as LIV is set to host a golf tournament at Trump’s Doral golf club in Miami next month.
As far as a merger, the PGA and LIV relations have been tense for most of LIV’s history. The PGA banned players who played in LIV from playing for them again. But as LIV offers significantly higher wages
Still, the PGA Tour remains determined to protect its power and historic presence in gold. The players have cited Saudi Arabia’s poor human rights record in their decision to stay. LIV players, who’ve received hefty paychecks after signing, have framed their moves as being about logistics due to playing schedules and the format of the tournaments.
Trump has cheered on the Saudi-backed tour, brushing aside the human rights concerns in a 2022 interview. He has portrayed the investment of wealth funds into sports globally as a genuine investment.
“What they’re doing with LIV is very important,” Trump said then, while also criticizing the PGA Tour’s approach to negotiating with the Saudis. “They’re putting a lot of effort into it and a lot of money into it, as you see.”
Trump’s increased interest in a merger in recent weeks could complicate conflict of interest laws. Presidents are exempt from conflict of interest laws, which prohibit other federal employees from taking actions that directly affect their financial holdings. Throughout history, presidents have voluntarily honored that standard.
The Trump golf courses are run by the Trump Organization, which is run by the president’s two oldest sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump. Like in Trump’s first term, the organization has vowed that the president will not be involved with the company to avoid conflicts of interest. The Trump Organization owns or operates 17 golf courses around the world, including one in Dubai.
The Trump family has previously shown business interests involving the Saudis beyond just golf. The $925 billion sovereign wealth fund al-Rumayyan leads has funded a private equity fund set up by Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who served as a foreign policy adviser to Trump during his first presidency. Trump has also shown interest in creating an American sovereign wealth fund.
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Since winning the election, the Trump organization’s interest in the Middle East has only continued to grow.
Just weeks before Trump’s second inauguration, the Trump Organization announced two real estate projects in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. And, one day before meeting with al-Rumayyan, Trump traveled to Miami to speak at a conference organized by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, which, while it is managed by Al-Rumayyan, it is ultimately controlled by the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
