PGA Tour has ‘constructive’ meeting with Trump and LIV’s Al-Rumayyan over unification
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Tiger Woods speaks next to US President Donald Trump during a reception honouring Black History Month in the East Room of the White House in Washington.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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WASHINGTON – The PGA Tour said on Feb 20 it had a “constructive working session” at the White House with US President Donald Trump and LIV Golf chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan on efforts to resolve the schism that exists between the two professional golf bodies.
At the meeting with Mr Trump and Al-Rumayyan, who is also the governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) that owns LIV Golf, were Tiger Woods and Adam Scott – both player-directors on the PGA Tour’s policy board – and commissioner Jay Monahan.
“We share a passion for the game and the importance of reunification,” Monahan, Woods and Scott said in a PGA Tour statement. “Most importantly, we all want the best players in the world playing together more often and are committed to doing all we can to deliver that outcome for our fans.”
The PGA Tour also said it is committed to moving as quickly as possible and will share additional details later.
Mr Trump, an avid golfer who owns a string of golf resorts, has become more deeply involved in trying to end the years-long divide in golf and met at the White House with Monahan and 2013 US Masters champion Scott just over two weeks ago.
The PGA Tour said on Feb 6 that after a meeting with Mr Trump it was closer to reaching a deal with the PIF.
Woods, a 15-time Major winner, has been working with Scott and Monahan on the issue but missed the initial meeting because his mother had died recently.
“I think things are going to heal quickly,” he said.
“We’re going to get this game going in the right direction. It has been heading in the wrong direction for a number of years and the fans want all of us – all the top players – playing together and we’re going to make that happen.”
LIV lured away several top names from the PGA Tour in making its 2022 debut, and the PGA responded by banning LIV players from its events. Top PGA and LIV players compete against one another now only at Major tournaments.
Meanwhile in PGA Tour action this week, Jeremy Paul of Germany carded two eagles on his way to a seven-under 64, giving him a share of the lead with England’s Harry Hall and Norway’s Kris Ventura after one round of the Mexico Open at VidantaWorld on Feb 20 in Vallarta, Mexico.
The trio have a one-shot lead over Isaiah Salinda, Brian Campbell, Patrick Fishburn, Argentina’s Alejandro Tosti and South Africa’s Aldrich Potgieter. REUTERS, AFP
