Trump Backs LIV Golf Return: “I Want to See Rory Play Bryson” as PGA Funding Dries Up

In a seismic twist that has sent shockwaves through the professional golf world, former President and avid golfer Donald Trump has publicly endorsed the return of LIV Golf players to the PGA Tour. The endorsement comes on the heels of a major financial development: the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) has officially withdrawn its direct funding from the breakaway LIV Golf league.

Speaking at a press conference from his Bedminster golf club—a venue that has hosted LIV events—Trump made his position crystal clear. “I want to see Rory play Bryson. I want to see the best players in the world competing against each other again,” he stated. “This whole split has been bad for the game. It’s time to bring everyone back together.”

For months, the golf world has been paralyzed by a cold war between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. The PIF’s decision to pull the financial plug on LIV has left the future of the Saudi-backed league in serious doubt. Now, with Trump—a key political figure and golf course owner who has hosted LIV events—throwing his weight behind a reunification, the pressure on PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan has never been higher.

The Financial Earthquake: Why the PIF Pulled Out

To understand why Trump’s comments carry so much weight, we need to look at the money. The Saudi Public Investment Fund pumped billions into LIV Golf to lure stars like Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, and Dustin Johnson away from the PGA Tour with guaranteed contracts worth nine figures.

However, recent reports confirm that the PIF has withdrawn its direct funding for the 2024 season and beyond. While LIV Golf will continue to operate in some form, the era of unlimited, no-questions-asked spending is over. Sources indicate that the PIF is now prioritizing a “framework agreement” with the PGA Tour—a deal that was originally announced in June 2023 but has since stalled.

Key financial reasons for the pullout include:

• Diminishing returns: LIV’s television ratings have stagnated, failing to capture the mainstream audience the PIF hoped for.
• Political pressure: The Biden administration and international regulators scrutinized the PIF’s involvement in American sports, creating legal headaches.
• Strategic pivot: The PIF is redirecting funds toward domestic Saudi projects and other global investments, including soccer and esports.

Without the blank check, LIV’s model of paying players simply for showing up is unsustainable. This has forced players like Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm—who signed massive LIV deals—to reconsider their long-term futures.

Trump’s Role: From Host to Peacemaker

Donald Trump is no stranger to golf’s civil war. His courses—including Trump National Doral in Miami and Bedminster in New Jersey—hosted multiple LIV events, drawing sharp criticism from PGA loyalists. Yet Trump has always positioned himself as a pragmatist.

“I know both sides,” Trump said. “I’ve hosted the biggest events on the PGA Tour and the biggest events on LIV. The fans don’t care about the politics. They want to see the best golfers in the world. Period.”

His latest comments are a direct challenge to PGA Tour leadership. The Tour has maintained a strict ban on LIV players, arguing that they violated tour rules by signing with a rival league. But with the PIF now stepping back, the Tour’s justification for the ban weakens.

Trump’s influence is twofold:

• Political leverage: As a former president and potential 2024 candidate, Trump has the ear of key Saudi officials and American business leaders.
• Course ownership: Trump’s courses are among the most prestigious in the world. If he pushes for a unified schedule, his venues could host the first “reunification” events.

For Rory McIlroy—who has been the most vocal critic of LIV and its players—Trump’s endorsement creates an awkward dynamic. McIlroy has repeatedly said that LIV players who left for money should not be allowed to return without consequences. But with Trump now framing the return as a patriotic, fan-friendly move, McIlroy’s stance looks increasingly isolated.

Expert Analysis: What a Reunification Would Look Like

As a sports journalist who has covered this saga from the first LIV tee shot, I can tell you that the landscape has shifted dramatically. The question is no longer if LIV players return, but how and when.

Here is my expert breakdown of the most likely scenarios:

Scenario 1: The “Trump-Brokered” Deal

Trump acts as a mediator between the PGA Tour and the PIF. The Tour agrees to drop its ban in exchange for a massive investment from the PIF into PGA Tour media rights. LIV players pay a fine (rumored to be in the $5-10 million range) and serve a short suspension. Bryson DeChambeau vs. Rory McIlroy becomes the headline of the 2025 season.

Scenario 2: The “Partial Return”

Only the biggest names—DeChambeau, Koepka, Johnson, Rahm—are allowed back. Lower-tier LIV players who left the PGA Tour for smaller contracts are left out. This creates a two-tier system that satisfies the TV networks but angers the rank-and-file PGA members.

Scenario 3: The “Legal Forced Reunion”

The Department of Justice or international antitrust regulators intervene, ruling that the PGA Tour’s ban is illegal. LIV players are reinstated by court order. This is the messiest option, but it’s legally plausible given the ongoing antitrust lawsuits.

My prediction: We will see a Trump-brokered deal before the 2025 Masters. The PIF wants to save face, the PGA Tour wants the money, and the fans want the drama. Trump, as always, wants to be the center of attention.

Predictions for the 2025 Season

If LIV players return—and I believe they will—here is how the 2025 PGA Tour season will unfold:

• The return of rivalries: Rory McIlroy vs. Bryson DeChambeau becomes the most-watched pairing in golf. Their contrasting styles—McIlroy’s explosive power versus DeChambeau’s scientific precision—will draw massive ratings.
• Jon Rahm’s redemption arc: Rahm, who left for a reported $300 million LIV deal, has struggled with the adjustment to 54-hole events. Returning to the PGA Tour will allow him to reclaim his status as the world’s best player.
• Brooks Koepka’s major dominance: Koepka has already won three majors since joining LIV. Freed from the stigma of the “rebel league,” he could challenge Jack Nicklaus’s record.
• Phil Mickelson’s farewell tour: At 54, Mickelson’s best days are behind him. But a return to the Tour would allow him to say goodbye to the fans who once adored him.

The biggest loser in this scenario? The LIV Golf brand itself. If the top players leave, the league becomes a second-tier circuit for aging stars and unproven rookies. The PIF may keep LIV alive as a developmental tour, but the “Super League” dream is dead.

Strong Conclusion: The Game Needs Its Stars

Golf is a sport built on individual excellence and compelling narratives. For two years, we have been denied the chance to see the best players compete in the same arena. We have missed the intensity of a Sunday showdown between Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau. We have missed the raw emotion of Brooks Koepka staring down a major leaderboard. We have missed the sheer joy of Jon Rahm celebrating a victory on the 18th green.

Donald Trump, for all his controversy, understands one thing perfectly: the product is the players. Not the tours. Not the commissioners. Not the political squabbles. The fans want to see the best golfers in the world, period.

The PIF’s withdrawal of funding has opened the door. Trump’s endorsement has kicked it wide open. Now, it is up to the PGA Tour to walk through it. If they do, the 2025 season will be the greatest in the history of the sport. If they don’t, they risk alienating a fan base that is already exhausted by the infighting.

As I write this, I can already hear the roar of the crowd at Augusta National. The smell of freshly cut grass. The crack of a driver. And in the distance, the sound of Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau walking to the first tee together.

It is time to bring them home.

Source: Based on news from Sky Sports.