When President Donald Trump hosted the PGA Championship at Trump National in Bedminster in 2022, few would have predicted that three years later he’d be actively working to unite golf’s fractured landscape. Yet here we are. The 47th president has now stepped directly into professional golf’s ongoing civil war. And his latest move has completely contradicted what Rory McIlroy claimed about him just weeks ago.
McIlroy had confidently told reporters at the Genesis Invitational that Trump wasn’t fond of LIV Golf’s format. “I learned that he’s not a fan of the LIV format,” the Northern Irishman revealed in February. “I was like, ‘But you’ve hosted their events?’ He was like, ‘Yeah, but it doesn’t mean that I like it.’ So I think he’s on the Tour’s side.”
But those claims now look questionable at best. Marine One landed at Trump Doral on Thursday for the LIV Golf Miami event. Trump arrived in presidential fashion to attend the Saudi-backed league’s tournament. He even planned to deliver a speech at a dinner with LIV players that evening.
The president quickly reinforced his commitment to a merger. “Ultimately, hopefully, the two tours are going to merge. That’ll be good. I’m involved in that too,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.
#NEW: Marine One has landed on the course with President Trump arriving on the grounds at Doral for this week’s LIV Golf event. He will reportedly attend a dinner this evening with the tournament, per @HowardMortman pic.twitter.com/XXbLENCaz1
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) April 3, 2025
Trump’s LIV Golf appearance shatters Rory McIlroy’s presidential endorsement
This latest appearance isn’t just a casual visit. It directly contradicts what Rory McIlroy confidently told the golf world in February. The four-time major champion had portrayed Trump as a PGA Tour ally. Now, that portrayal lies in tatters, and it raises serious questions about McIlroy’s understanding of the merger dynamics.
McIlroy’s journey from fierce LIV critic to pragmatic mediator has been remarkable. He initially condemned the Saudi-backed tour as a “money grab” and demanded harsh penalties for defectors. But by mid-2024, his tone had softened considerably. “The faster we can all get back together, the better,” he stated, reversing his call for punishments.
His February 2025 revelation about Trump seemed part of this diplomatic evolution. McIlroy portrayed the president as a potential bridge-builder who secretly favored the PGA Tour. He emphasized Trump’s influence in the negotiations, noting, “He can be influential… He has direct access to Yasir’s boss.” The Northern Irishman clearly believed Trump was in the PGA Tour’s corner.
Trump’s helicopter landing at Doral tells a different story. His enthusiasm for the LIV event contradicts McIlroy’s characterization. The president isn’t just tolerating LIV Golf on his properties. He’s actively embracing it. His dinner speech and public statements show genuine support beyond business interests.
For McIlroy, who serves on PGA Tour Enterprises’ transaction subcommittee, this miscalculation is particularly embarrassing. He has participated in direct talks with PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan. He’s played practice rounds with LIV defectors like Brooks Koepka. Yet he appears to have misjudged Trump’s position entirely.
As Trump deepens his involvement in the merger negotiations, the question now becomes: What does this mean for the future of professional golf’s divided landscape?
The ever-evolving saga of golf’s attempted merger
The road to reunification has been complex since the shocking framework agreement announced in June 2023, which aimed to merge both tours under PGA Tour Enterprises. Multiple setbacks have plagued negotiations, including the missed December 2023 deadline and the PGA Tour’s $3 billion deal with Strategic Sports Group in 2024 that further complicated discussions with the Saudi PIF.
Major hurdles remain before any deal can be finalized, including reconciling LIV’s team format with traditional stroke play, addressing player reintegration policies, and resolving financial equity concerns among stakeholders. Despite PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan emphasizing “reunification” as the ultimate goal, player-director Adam Scott has cast doubt on the feasibility, noting, “It might not even be feasible in the end,” while McIlroy has softened his stance, acknowledging, “We’ve all done better from all of this. Whether you stayed on the PGA Tour, you left, we have all benefitted.”
As Trump prepares to attend LIV Golf Miami this weekend, the golf world watches with bated breath. Can the president succeed where others have failed? Only time will tell if Trump can become the unlikely savior of professional golf’s fractured landscape.
The post Rory McIlroy’s Confidence in Tatters as Donald Trump Revives PGA Tour Merger Hopes Amid LIV Golf Miami Visit appeared first on EssentiallySports.
