Adam Scott says his assembly with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and President Donald Trump final week was “optimistic” for getting a PGA-LIV deal to reunite males’s golf stars.
Watch each spherical of the PGA Tour LIVE & Unique on Fox Sports activities, out there on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your first month for simply $1. Restricted time supply.
The 44-year-old Australian spoke with Golf Channel on Tuesday from the PGA Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines, moved from Riviera as a consequence of wildfires within the Los Angeles space.
“It’s only a optimistic factor that the President of the USA is such a lover of the sport of golf and understands a number of the challenges dealing with the skilled recreation in the intervening time,” Scott mentioned in a report posted on the community’s web site.
LIV Golf debuted in 2022 with a number of prime stars leaving the PGA Tour for the upstart sequence, prompting the PGA to ban them from their occasions. Main tournaments are actually the one outlet for LIV and PGA stars to compete towards each other.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund (PIF), backers of LIV Golf, have been in talks with PGA Tour officers about an funding deal since a “framework settlement” was unveiled in June 2023.
“From the desert!” Spieth makes WILD par | 00:42
However 14 months after the primary deadline to finish talks on uniting LIV and PGA expertise underneath one banner, no deal has been finalised.
There have been issues a couple of Saudi funding in a US enterprise by the Division of Justice, however Scott mentioned Trump may be capable of hasten completion of a deal.
“Given how issues are sitting with the Division of Justice among the many skilled recreation, that is all loopy stuff,” Scott mentioned.
“He’s a lover of the sport and hopefully might be very useful for the skilled recreation and assist everyone transfer ahead.”
Scott, the 2013 Masters champion, and Monahan went to the White Home final Tuesday, with Tiger Woods serving to arrange the assembly with Trump, in accordance with a Golf Channel supply.
Woods, who performed golf with Trump on Sunday, and Scott are members of the board of administrators of PGA Tour Enterprises, which PIF would make investments into as a part of the deal in talks.
“The president is keen about (golf), owns a number of golf properties, fabulous locations world wide,” Scott mentioned. “He has a relationship with Saudi Arabia and the Public Funding Fund. I genuinely assume he’s a fan of the PGA Tour as nicely and he’s actually a fan of Tiger Woods. Most individuals are,” Scott mentioned.
Davis pulls off ABSURD shot of tree root | 00:59
“Given this has been tied up, he may be very useful.”
Scott mentioned Trump may hasten the tempo of stalled talks by getting concerned.
“The tough factor for possibly the administrations to know — why skilled golf coming again collectively, working extra harmoniously let’s say, will not be a breach of anti-trust or anticompetitive points,” Scott mentioned.
“That’s what has actually been checked out. Hopefully this may be helped by the President and issues can transfer ahead at a quicker tempo.”