Trump backs LIV golfers returning to PGA Tour as Saudi funding exit looms

The PGA Tour is currently staging the Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral, while LIV Golf is set to play at a Trump-owned course in Potomac in two weeks' time, keeping the crossover between the two sides very much in view.

Asked whether defectors should be welcomed back, Trump was clear in his view: "Well I do.

"I do believe that all of the great golfers should be playing against each other.

"I want to see Rory [McIlroy] playing Bryson DeChambeau. I want to see big Jon Rahm playing Scottie [Scheffler].

"They have great players on the LIV. But it's almost like people want to see that. That's why the Masters were so good, because you saw everybody together.

"The tour wants the best players. You can't have the best players if they're boycotting.”

His comments came as play got underway at the Cadillac Championship, shortly after confirmation that the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) will end its financial backing of LIV Golf at the conclusion of the 2026 season.

Former world No 1 Jordan Spieth was also asked, after his opening round, what a potential pathway back to the PGA Tour might look like for LIV players.

Spieth admitted there are still more questions than answers: "I'm not sure if it should be the same for everyone. I know olive branches were given out a couple of months ago. Brooks took them up on it. So, I'm not sure what would now change.

"This doesn't necessarily mean that LIV's not going to still move on, too. I think there's just too many unknowns for me to have a good gauge on what would happen there.

"But I think, if there's a system for Brooks and a system for Patrick Reed, does that stay the same for guys in the same category as those two coming back or does it change now? Does it change for guys who sued and dropped their membership?

"There's just a lot of different things that happened over the last four years for that. I'm kind of glad I'm not in that room, and I trust the guys that are in that room to make the right decision."