The PGA Tour is set to host a tournament at Trump National Doral in Miami in 2026, marking its first visit to the former president’s course in nearly ten years. This development suggests the PGA Tour may be seeking a closer relationship with Donald Trump amid the ongoing divisions in men’s professional golf. The move is likely a response to the complex dynamics between the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Context of the PGA Tour and LIV Golf Rivalry
LIV Golf has held a tournament at Trump Doral during each of its initial four seasons, but is not expected to continue there beyond 2025. The PGA Tour’s return to the course breaks that pattern, indicating a possible strategic shift. According to Josh Carpenter of Sports Business Journal,
“The move there by the tour could be seen as an olive branch being extended to President Trump, who has waded into the ongoing saga between the tour and LIV, as well as the negotiations between the tour and Saudi PIF. Trump has been outspoken in his support of LIV over its first four years.”
—Josh Carpenter, Sports Business Journal
Trump’s Engagement in Sports and Golf’s Current Landscape
Throughout his presidency and beyond, Trump has actively involved himself in various sports events. Recently, he announced plans for a UFC celebration at the White House honoring America’s 250th anniversary. Over a recent weekend, he appeared at the FIFA Club World Cup final, joining Chelsea’s team on stage during the trophy presentation. On the first day of his presidency, Trump addressed the nation during halftime of the College Football Playoff championship game. His long-standing passion for golf extends to his prominent role in the division between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.
Impact of Trump’s Influence on Golf’s Negotiations
Trump has compared the PGA Tour and LIV Golf conflict to global conflicts, calling it
“more complicated than the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.”
In March, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan recognized Trump’s role in encouraging dialogue between the two rival tours. While reunification of the tours does not seem imminent, the PGA Tour’s decision to hold an event at Trump’s Miami course reveals an effort to align with Trump’s influence, possibly to facilitate future negotiations.
What This Could Mean for the Future of Professional Golf
The PGA Tour’s return to Trump National Doral could be a significant step toward healing the fractures within men’s professional golf. By extending an invitation to host a tournament at Trump’s course, the Tour may be attempting to build goodwill with a key figure who has actively shaped the sport’s current tensions. This move could also reshape power dynamics in professional golf as the sport navigates its rivalry and potential reunification, influenced by ongoing engagement from Donald Trump, LIV Golf, and Saudi PIF interests.