Last Updated on July 18, 2022
Former President Donald Trump criticized the PGA Tour and offered support for the LIV Tour, adding heat to a controversial topic in the golf world.
In a Monday Truth Social post, Trump warned that golfers who remain playing on the “very disloyal PGA” will end up missing out on a lot of money. The former President predicted the PGA and LIV tours will eventually merge together, adding that this will “say how smart the original signees were.”
The full post reads:
All of those golfers that remain “loyal” to the very disloyal PGA, in all of its different forms, will pay a big price when the inevitable MERGER with LIV comes, and you get nothing but a big “thank you” from PGA officials who are making Millions of Dollars a year. If you don’t take the money now, you will get nothing after the merger takes place, and only say how smart the original signees were. Good luck to all, and congratulations to really talented Cam Smith on his incredible WIN!
The LIV tour has faced scrutiny from golf fans and players because of its Saudi Arabia funded operations.
The start-up tour shocked the golf world when high-profile PGA players began leaving in droves for the LIV tour.
Prominent names such as Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Kevin Na, Talor Gooch, Louis Oosthuizen, Sergio Garcia, and Ian Poulter left for LIV, where many received shockingly high contracts.
According to the Telegraph, LIV’s Dustin Johnson reportedly was paid “around” $125 million to join the up-and-coming tour. Johnson’s contract makes the PGA tour player’s incomes look minuscule.
For example, Johnson’s $125 signing contract means he made more money than Tiger Woods has made throughout his entire career. Woods made $121 million from on-course earnings across his 23-year-long career.
Despite PGA players leaving for LIV, the PGA has continued to sound off against their competitors. Early last month, Jay Monahan, the PGA’s commissioner, suspended indefinitely any LIV-competing players from ever playing in PGA-sanctioned tournaments. That included the PGA’s Open Championship.
It is unclear if LIV players will be allowed to compete indefinitely in non-PGA-sanctioned major championships like the Masters, the U.S. Open, and the Open Championship.
Trump is set to host two LIV tournaments at courses he owns in New Jersey and Florida this year.
In the wake of the January 6th, 2021 protest, the PGA decided to terminate its agreement with Trump where his Bedminster club in New Jersey would host the 2022 PGA Championship.
Jim Richeron, the PGA of America president, said holding the tournament at Trump’s club would be “detrimental” to their brand and leave the organization’s ability to function “at risk.”
Trump’s Bedminster Club will host a LIV Golf tournament July 29-31.
Stay tuned to National File for any updates.
