The future of LIV Golf is hanging by a thread as the competition looks for outside investment after the announcement from the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund that they would be pulling their funding at the end of this season.
This has left the futures of the golfers who opted to join LIV Golf in limbo, as they may find it difficult to return to the PGA Tour.
Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm may look at Brooks Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour and be put off by the punishment they may face if they attempt to come back.
The five-time major champion went through a one-time returning member programme that could cost him up to $90 million in charitable donations and forfeitures of bonuses and equity.
Now, Donald Trump has had his say on the future of LIV Golf and whether the golfers should return to the PGA Tour, including DeChambeau as the US President would love to see the American square off against Rory McIlroy.
Trump is a keen golfer and owns several golf courses, and the 47th President of the United States is never afraid to give his opinion on a subject, and so when asked about this, he was sharp to give his thoughts.
A detail view of LIV Golf logo during Day Three of LIV Golf Miami at Trump National Doral Miami
He said: “Well, I do. In fact, if I had time, I’d love to watch television today because the PGA Tour is playing at Doral, the Cadillac Championship!
“They’re at my tournament right now, the PGA. In two weeks, LIV is going to be at my course right here on the Potomac.
“I do believe that all of the golfers should be playing; the great golfers should be playing against each other.
“I want to see Rory playing Bryson DeChambeau!
“They have great players on the LIV. But it’s almost like people want to see that. That’s why the Masters were so good, because you saw everybody together.
“Because they’re great. If they weren’t, you know, the tour really will; the tour wants to have the best player. You can’t have the best player that they’re boycotting.
“I’m not sure what’s happening with LIV. But they are playing in my course two weeks on the Potomac, beautiful course. But right now, they’re playing at Doral, which I own.
“And if I ever, if we end this early, I’ll be able to watch for about three minutes before I get back.”
Whether the PGA Tour will be swayed by the comments of US President Trump will remain to be seen; however, there may be a contingent of fans that agree with him wanting to see the best golfers square off against each other.
While there will be those that believe that, although they want to see the golfers return, those that jumped ship to LIV Golf should face a punishment for doing this, so it will be an interesting few months as supporters see if golf’s biggest names return to the PGA Tour.