Aussie Adam Scott Visits the White House as PGA Tour Urges Trump to Resolve LIV Stand-off

The PGA Tour has turned to new US president Donald Trump, seeking his assistance in resolving the ongoing rift within professional golf.

The friction between America’s premier golf organisation and the breakaway LIV Golf league remains unresolved, even after a supposed peace agreement was established over a year and a half ago.

In 2022, the Saudi-backed LIV league dramatically altered the landscape of golf by attracting several top male golfers with lucrative offers, including Australia’s Cameron Smith, who had just clinched his first major title at the British Open.

In retaliation, the PGA Tour and the DP World (European) Tour effectively sidelined those players, while loyal figures like Rory McIlroy publicly chastised their peers for accepting the hefty paychecks.

In June 2023, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan made a controversial move by secretly aligning with LIV Golf’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) in a bid to resolve the ongoing conflict, leaving McIlroy and others in the dark.

Despite the partnership, uncertainty lingers around the 2024 and 2025 seasons for both tours, with little sign of any significant transformations in the men’s golf calendar.

Now, nearly 20 months later, Monahan has taken PGA Tour players Tiger Woods and Adam Scott to the White House this week, requesting Trump’s involvement.

“We understand golf supporters are eagerly awaiting a resolution to negotiations with the Public Investment Fund and express our gratitude to President Trump for his longstanding interest and support for the game,” stated the PGA Tour in a Friday morning announcement.

“We have urged the president to intervene for the benefit of the sport, our nation, and all nations involved.

“We appreciate his leadership that has brought us closer to a final agreement, which may enable the reconciliation of men’s professional golf.”

The PGA Tour is hosting the Phoenix Open this week, while LIV Golf kicks off its season in Riyadh.