PGA Tour Commissioner suggests LIV Golf players could return to U.S. circuit
LIV players were banned from the PGA Tour after joining the breakaway league
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan has hinted that golfers who joined LIV Golf may soon be reintegrated into a unified global circuit as negotiations between the two rival tours near a conclusion.
Monahan revealed that a recent meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump had helped advance discussions with the Saudi Arabian backers of LIV Golf, describing it as a step closer to finalising the contentious agreement.
The commissioner, alongside PGA Tour board member Adam Scott, met with Trump at the White House last week to discuss the lengthy negotiations.
Trump’s ties with Saudi Arabia and his potential influence in securing approval from the U.S. Department of Justice - currently scrutinising the deal over anti-competition concerns - are thought to be key factors in moving toward reunification.
While the prospect of a unified tour is gaining momentum, the details remain unclear. LIV players were banned from the PGA Tour after joining the breakaway league, which launched in 2022. Since then, the two tours have operated separately, leading to a divided talent pool that many argue has hurt the sport’s overall appeal.
Monahan hinted at the importance of bringing the world’s best golfers back together, suggesting it’s essential for both the fans and the game itself.
“Candidly, that’s what fans want,” Monahan said during a press conference ahead of the Genesis Invitational.
“When you talk about reunification, that’s all the best players in the world competing with each other and against each other.”
He added, “We’ve operated in a world where there’s more than one [tour], and the PGA Tour has performed very well. But in the long run, is that the best thing for fans? Is that the best thing for the game? We’re trying to solve it so everybody benefits.”
When asked whether reunification would mean LIV players returning to the PGA Tour, Monahan replied: “I think if you solve things... if we respond to what our fans are telling us, we put together the best, the strongest possible schedule and product, to me all that will resolve itself.”
