Amid uncertainty Trump urges PGA Tour to welcome back LIV defectors

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund confirmed Thursday it was cutting funding for LIV after the 2026 season.

That sparked immediate speculation the league would fold although LIV, which rocked the global game when it was founded in 2021, said in a statement Thursday it had made new board appointments aimed at securing “long-term financial partners to support its transition from a foundational launch phase to a diversified, multi-partner investment model.”

Trump, speaking at the Oval Office in Washington, was asked if the PGA Tour should welcome back golfers who jumped ship to LIV, lured by massive contracts backed by PIF.

Those who defected lost their US tour membership.

“I’d love to see LIV. But I do believe that all of the golfers should be playing — the great golfers — should be playing against each other,” he said.

“I want to see Rory (McIlroy, who just won the Masters) playing Bryson DeChambeau. I want to see big Jon Rahm play Scottie (Scheffler), who is so great.

“There’s something nice about all of the players playing together. Now they’ll all be accepted by the tour … they’ll all be back on tour and it’ll be great,” Trump said.

However, Trump noted that even with the coming loss of Saudi backing LIV is still operational.

LIV this week postponed a scheduled June tournament in New Orleans with officials saying they hoped to reschedule for later this year.

LIV’s next scheduled event is set for May 7-10 at Trump National in suburban Washington.

“I’m not sure what’s happening with LIV, but they are playing at my course in two weeks, on the Potomac,” Trump said.