Donald Trump’s election as President of the United States has caused plenty of discourse in the golfing world as LIV Golf and the PGA Tour attempt to reach a merger agreement.
Groundbreaking reports from the UK suggested the PIF is set to invest $1bn in the PGA Tour. PIF would be awarded two seats on the PGA Tour board, including a chairmanship position.
Furthermore, LIV Golf events would fall under the PGA Tour banner, effectively bringing both tours together. Despite the positive news, Rory McIlroy hasn’t heard anything about an agreement, and it’s a similar story for LIV Golf star Tyrrell Hatton.
Trump’s political triumph, however, has added a new dynamic to the ongoing saga. Many, including McIlroy, suggest the 78-year-old’s election could speed up the process.
“Yeah, I think from the outside looking in, it’s probably a little less complicated than it actually is. But obviously, Trump has a great relationship with Saudi Arabia. He’s got a great relationship with golf. He’s a lover of golf,” McIlroy said before the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
Golf Channel host Rex Hoggard disagrees with McIlroy’s claims about the incoming President, however.
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Speaking during the latest Golf Channel Podcast, Hoggard claimed that there’s no guarantee approval is even required from the Department of Justice, which has been a sticking point throughout negotiations.
“I see where Rory is coming from, and that started when he was asked in an interview on the European Tour what he thought about the negotiations. He did make the lead that this is probably good for those negotiations,” Hoggard said.
“Pointing out that the Department of Justice investigation was always going to be a hurdle for any kind of deal. It’s not guaranteed to be an investigation by the DOJ, and even if there is, there’s no guarantee that they’ll find any anti-trust violations.”
Hoggard also claimed that unifying professional golf would probably be low down on Trump’s to-do list.
“My guess is that the incoming President will have plenty of things to deal with well and beyond golf and trying to reunite the professional game,” he added.
“Donald Trump, whatever you think about him, he loves golf. I said this when he had his first term; it is good for the game. However, I don’t think it’s going to have an impact on what’s going on right now.”
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Despite Hoggard’s remarks, the consensus is that Trump’s election could well be positive for golf in the future.
The DOJ will now be staffed by a Republican administration, which could mean any issues are easily overcome. Furthermore, had Kamala Harris’ administration taken control of the DOJ, it’s understood problems were more likely to emerge for the PGA Tour and the PIF.
| Biggest LIV Golf sign-up fees | ||
| Player | Team | Sign-up fee |
| Jon Rahm | Legion XIII | £450m |
| Phil Mickelson | Hy Flyers | £150m |
| Bryson DeChambeau | Crushers GC | £100m |
| Brooks Koepka | Smash GC | £100m |
Trump has previously expressed his desire to reach a deal and even encouraged PGA Tour players to take the lucrative LIV sign-up money before a merger took place.
Now, with the 78-year-old back in the White House and the PGA Tour and PIF reportedly close to an agreement, the coming weeks could prove significant.
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