Trump Meets PGA Commissioner on Golf Merger

President-elect Donald Trump has been actively engaging with key figures in the ongoing negotiations between the PGA Tour and the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League. Recently, Trump played golf with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan at Trump International Golf Club and later sat with Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the head of the Saudi Public Investment Fund, at a UFC event in New York. Despite a framework merger agreement announced in June 2023, talks have stalled due to anti-trust concerns and a lack of progress since a December deadline. Trump expressed confidence in his ability to broker a deal, stating it could be done in 'the better part of 15 minutes', though he acknowledges having larger issues to address. Rory McIlroy suggested that Trump's involvement could help facilitate a resolution, given his relationships with both the Saudi investors and the golf community. The PGA Tour continues to grapple with the division of talent between the two entities, as many former PGA players remain suspended due to their participation in LIV events.