President Trump met at the White House with Yasir al-Rumayyan, head of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign-wealth fund, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, and golfer Tiger Woods to discuss merging the PGA Tour with the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit. The objectives of the meeting were unclear, but it aimed to address ongoing tensions in professional golf following proposals to unite the two entities. Challenges include regulatory reviews and player concerns. Trump’s involvement has raised questions about potential conflicts of interest, especially as his courses have hosted LIV events. Al-Rumayyan missed a conference to attend the meeting, indicating its significance.
In an effort to resolve ongoing and divisive plans to merge the PGA Tour with the Saudi Arabian-backed LIV Golf circuit, President Trump met on Thursday with the head of the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund at the White House, as reported by five individuals familiar with the meeting.
Present at the meeting were Yasir al-Rumayyan, the wealth fund official, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, and golfer Tiger Woods, according to three of the sources.
The exact aims of Mr. Trump for the gathering were not immediately disclosed. However, it is known that the president has recently been advocating for a resolution to the division that has plagued professional golf for several years.
This division prompted the tour and the wealth fund to announce tentative plans to merge in some capacity in June 2023. Unfortunately, these efforts have faced obstacles due to concerns over regulatory scrutiny, player dissatisfaction, and uncertainties surrounding the future of LIV Golf.
A spokesperson from the White House did not provide immediate comments when requested.
As recently as February 4, Mr. Trump hosted Mr. Monahan in the Oval Office. During this meeting, he also spoke by phone with Mr. al-Rumayyan, who serves as the governor of the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund and chairman of LIV Golf. This encounter, along with other recent actions by Mr. Trump, raised concerns regarding potential conflicts of interest; his company has hosted several LIV tournaments, and the circuit is scheduled to return to the Trump course in Doral, Florida, in April.
Golf executives indicated that the February 4 meeting with Mr. Trump significantly moved discussions toward a resolution. Mr. al-Rumayyan, a close ally of Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, even missed a day at his own investment conference in Miami Beach, known as the Future Investment Initiative, which he chairs, to participate in this meeting.
On Thursday morning, a conference organizer announced that Mr. al-Rumayyan was unable to deliver his anticipated opening remarks due to a last-minute meeting in Washington, though no further details were provided.
Princess Reema Bandar al-Saud, the Saudi Arabian ambassador to the United States, stepped in for Mr. al-Rumayyan.
Sharon LaFraniere contributed reporting from Washington.