Former President Donald Trump feels confident he could fix the split between the LIV and PGA golf tours in a quarter-hour.
The Republican presidential candidate made the bold claim Monday on the “Let’s Go” podcast hosted by sportscaster Jim Gray and former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick.
“I could certainly help it,” Trump said of a potential deal. “I would say it would take me the better part of 15 minutes to get that deal done.”
The two major professional golf leagues have butted heads for three years. Several household names from the PGA Tour, including Jon Rahm and Dustin Johnson, signed large contracts to join LIV. Those players have received scrutiny from PGA loyalists who have pointed out that LIV is owned and operated by the Saudi Arabian monarchy’s Public Investment Fund.
“But I do think we should have one tour, and they should have the best players in that tour,” Trump said. “But they’re very happy with Saudi. They’re over there and they’re very happy about it. They really are. It’s amazing.”
Trump has hosted six LIV events at his golf courses and urged top golfers to abandon the PGA for higher paydays.
“All of those golfers that remain ’Loyal’ to the very disloyal PGA, in all of its different forms, will pay a big price when the inevitable MERGER with LIV comes,” Trump wrote on social media in 2022.
The professional golf divide was just one issue he tackled the day before Election Day.
Another was pay in women’s sports, with Trump calling WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark’s $76,535 salary during her record-breaking rookie year “unfair.”
“The league could probably go up and give her a bonus,” he said.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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