Just days after Tiger Woods made a discreet visit to the White House, the 82-time PGA Tour winner is once again making headlines—this time alongside President Donald Trump. But this story isn’t just about a legendary golfer or a political heavyweight. It’s about the future of professional golf and a conflict that has divided the sport for years.
On Tuesday morning, Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia, but this wasn’t your typical diplomatic trip. While business and politics were undoubtedly on the agenda, the visit carried another layer of significance: golf. Specifically, the unresolved battle between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), the financial engine behind LIV Golf.
For nearly three years, the PGA Tour and LIV Golf have been locked in a bitter struggle for dominance. What once appeared to be a path to peace—a framework agreement announced in 2023—fell apart under pressure from the U.S. Department of Justice and internal discord within the sport. Since then, LIV Golf has continued its aggressive push, luring top players and reshaping the landscape of professional golf. The PGA Tour, in response, has fought to maintain its legacy, structure, and influence.
Now, Trump appears poised to tilt the balance. According to Golfweek’s Eamon Lynch, Tiger Woods’ visit to the White House was more than ceremonial. It was, in part, to ensure that Trump—during his meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman—would make a firm declaration: any agreement involving the PIF must align with the PGA Tour’s terms. That includes the eventual dissolution of LIV Golf as a separate entity.
This position mirrors Woods’ own. As a member of the PGA Tour’s policy board, he has consistently advocated for the protection of golf’s traditions and competitive integrity. While others have been swayed by LIV’s lucrative offers, Woods has remained unwavering, calling for unity under the PGA Tour’s banner and warning against allowing short-term money to undermine the sport’s future.
With Trump now echoing Woods’ stance on an international stage, the message is clear: the PGA Tour intends to dictate the terms of any future deal. LIV Golf, despite burning through an estimated $5 billion with little mainstream traction to show for it, now faces a critical decision—compromise or continue a costly battle for relevance.
The Crown Prince, who has openly acknowledged the use of sport as a tool for global influence, now must decide whether to yield or double down. Either way, the next chapter in golf’s ongoing civil war is unfolding—and the stakes have never been higher.
