President Donald Trump said he supports a return of LIV Golf players to the PGA Tour after the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) confirmed it will end funding for LIV at the end of the 2026 season. The announcement came as the PGA Tour is playing the Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral in Miami; LIV is due to play at Trump-owned Potomac in two weeks.
Asked whether defectors from LIV should be welcomed back, Trump said he wants the best golfers competing against each other, naming matchups fans want to see: Rory McIlroy versus Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm versus Scottie Scheffler. He argued the tours are stronger when top players are not separated and pointed to the appeal of major championships when everyone is together.
The PIF statement prompted immediate discussion about how — or whether — LIV players might rejoin the PGA Tour. Former world No.1 Jordan Spieth said there are still many unknowns about any return process. He noted that ‘olive branches’ were offered earlier this year and accepted by some players, including Brooks Koepka, and questioned whether the same terms would apply to others, especially those who sued or left their memberships. Spieth said he trusts the people negotiating the issue to find the right solution.
Sky Sports News analyst Jamie Weir said it is unlikely any new backer will match the level of PIF spending, which he estimates at close to $6bn with little return on investment. Weir said the big question is what players will do next: several are reportedly exploring exit strategies and may finish the remaining LIV events before seeking to cancel contracts and rejoin regular tours.
Weir stressed that players’ situations will differ. Some established stars — Phil Mickelson, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood — have earned enough that they could stop competing; Weir suggested it is unlikely Mickelson will return to the PGA Tour. Others, including eight LIV players who hold DP World Tour cards such as Tyrell Hatton, might follow the path used by Patrick Reed to re-enter the regular circuit. High-profile cases like Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau, Weir added, will be closely watched; the offer made to them and to Brooks Koepka in January was described as a one-time deal.
Remaining LIV Golf events this season are expected to include:
– LIV Golf Virginia at Trump National Golf Club, Washington D.C., USA — May 7-10
– LIV Golf Korea at Asiad Country Club, South Korea — May 28-31
– LIV Golf Andalucia at Real Club Valderrama, Spain — June 4-7
– LIV Golf United Kingdom at JCB Golf & Country Club, Great Britain — July 23-26
– LIV Golf New York at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, New Jersey, USA — August 6-9
– LIV Golf Indianapolis at The Club at Chatham Hills, USA — August 20-23
– LIV Golf Team Championship Michigan at The Cardinal at Saint John’s, USA — August 27-30
Coverage note: the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour and the majors — including the PGA Championship (May 14-17), US Open (June 18-21) and The Open (July 16-19) — are available live on Sky Sports, with streaming options also offered.