President Donald Trump has publicly voiced his support for bringing LIV Golf players back onto the PGA Tour now that the Saudi-backed Public Investment Fund has announced it will cease financing the breakaway circuit. The PGA Tour is currently staging the Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral, a property owned by the former president, while LIV Golf is slated to compete two weeks from now on the Trump-owned Potomac course.
When asked if the PGA Tour should welcome back the players who defected to LIV with open arms, Trump responded unequivocally, "I do. I believe the best golfers should be competing against each other. I want to see Rory McIlroy facing Bryson DeChambeau, I want to see Jon Rahm taking on Scottie Scheffler.
The LIV roster has great talent, and fans love seeing the whole field together – that’s why the Masters feels so special when every top name is present. The tour wants the best players, and you can’t have the best if they’re boycotting." The timing of Trump’s remarks coincides with the announcement that the Public Investment Fund will stop its financial support for LIV Golf at the conclusion of the 2026 season.
The decision effectively removes the $6 billion injection that has kept the league afloat, raising questions about the future of its contracts and the fate of its members. Former world number one Jordan Spieth was interviewed after his opening round at the Cadillac Championship and was asked how the transition might work if more LIV players decide to re‑enter the PGA Tour. Spieth said, "I’m not sure if the process should be the same for everyone.
We saw olive branches offered a few months ago and Brooks Koepka took them. I don’t know what will change now. It doesn’t mean LIV will disappear – there are still many unknowns. If there’s a pathway for Brooks and for Patrick Reed, will it be identical for other players in their situation?
What about those who sued and then dropped their membership? There have been a lot of moving parts over the past four years, and I’m glad I’m not in that decision‑making room.
I trust those who are to make the right call." Sky Sports analyst Jamie Weir added his perspective, noting that the PIF’s cash infusion was unprecedented and unlikely to be replicated. "They’ve spent close to $6 billion with very little return on investment.
No sensible investor will keep funding a failing business," he said. Weir highlighted the divergent futures for LIV players: "Some, like Phil Mickelson, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood, are multi‑millionaires who may simply walk away from professional golf. I doubt we’ll ever see Mickelson back on the PGA Tour – the bridge is burned.
Others, such as Tyrell Hatton, already hold DP World Tour cards, so a route similar to Patrick Reed’s is possible. The rank‑and‑file players who don’t draw crowds will face a tougher road back." Weir specifically mentioned the high‑profile cases of Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau, saying, "Their pathway will be very interesting.
The offer made to them and to Brooks Koepka in January was a one‑time proposal. Whether the Tour can craft a new agreement for them remains to be seen." The broader context of this debate is the ongoing tension between the established PGA Tour and the upstart LIV Golf league, which was created with heavy Saudi backing to challenge the traditional golf hierarchy. Over the past four years, LIV has attracted a number of top players by offering lucrative contracts, but the reliance on state‑sponsored money has drawn criticism and regulatory scrutiny. With the PIF’s withdrawal, the league must either find new financing or restructure its business model, and many players are now weighing their options.
For fans, the prospect of seeing the sport’s biggest names compete head‑to‑head again is tantalising. The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and The Open are all marquee events that thrive on a full field of elite talent. Trump’s comment that “the Masters was so good because you saw everybody together” reflects a common sentiment among golf enthusiasts who feel the sport loses some of its drama when top players are split between competing tours.
As the Cadillac Championship proceeds at Doral, and LIV prepares for its next tournament at Potomac, the golf world watches closely to see how the negotiations will unfold. Will the PGA Tour extend a formal invitation to returning players, perhaps with conditional status or a phased reintegration? Will LIV Golf attempt to secure a new sponsor and continue as a separate entity? The answers will shape the professional landscape for years to come.
In the meantime, Sky Sports continues to broadcast live coverage of the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour and major championships, offering viewers the chance to follow the evolving story in real time. The network also promotes its streaming options, encouraging fans to watch without a long‑term contract.
For those looking to play the game themselves, Sky Sports provides a booking service for over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland, inviting golfers of all levels to experience the sport on the very grounds where the drama unfolds.