LIV Golf has few friends in the U.S. sports industry or on Capitol Hill. But the Saudi-backed golf tour continues to have one powerful public supporter: Donald Trump.
The former U.S. President came out swinging against the PGA Tour at the LIV Golf Team Championship at Trump National Doral Golf Club near Miami.
Trump said the PGA Tour missed a critical opportunity by stonewalling the upstart LIV. Now the venerable American tour finds itself up against a competitor with unlimited funds.
It’s the second time this year one of Trump’s golf clubs has hosted a LIV event. While playing in the pro-am Thursday, Trump bashed the PGA Tour — and threw his support behind LIV.
Trump said the PGA Tour is making a “big mistake” by not finding a way to co-exist with LIV and chief executive officer Greg Norman. “The Tour mishandled it so badly. The people at the top … something should happen with them. They mishandled it so badly. They not only had an advantage, they are dealing with very good people [Saudi investors] with unlimited money.
“They’re good people with unlimited money. And something could have been worked out very easily.”
Trump then predicted more PGA Tour stars would follow the path of Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, and Brooks Koepka by defecting to LIV. “A lot of other people are coming over…Big names,” he said. “The star system is always very important in sports. Whether it’s sports or anything else. And they’ve got the stars.”
Despite the bitter feud dividing the golf industry, the divisive former President believes the warring leagues could eventually work together: “I think that ultimately maybe something gets worked out, but the Tour mishandled that so badly.”
Trump previously hosted LIV at his club in Bedminster, New Jersey. This weekend tournament in Miami, the eighth and final event of the 2022 LIV Golf Invitational Series, will offer a purse of $50 million this weekend, with $16 million going to the winning team.
The rival PGA and LIV Golf tours are suing each other. LIV is also seeking its first U.S. media rights deal, with Fox Sports considered the favorite.
