As it turns out, negotiating the merger between two rival factions in the sports world is much harder than trying to end a complex, decade-long geopolitical conflict between one of the USA’s biggest foreign enemies and an ally.

At least, that’s what President Donald Trump said when asked about the ongoing negotiations between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.

Since taking office back in January, Trump has been at the center of trying to unite the two golf leagues to bring an end to their ‘civil war’ that has divided the sport.

He’s been hosting meetings between PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, Saudi PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan, and players Tiger Woods and Adam Scott at the White House in recent days as well.

Despite no significant developments in recent days, the President believes that there will be a resolution between the two sides soon.

‘They’re gonna have to get together,’ he said. ‘They’ve had a lot of discussion back and forth. They both are meaning well, and a deal will ultimately happen.

Trump has recently met with Saudi PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan (L) and PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan (R) at the White House in order to work out a deal

Tiger Woods, who was at those meetings, believes that a resolution will manifest itself soon

‘I think it will happen pretty quickly. It would be nice to see the best golfers play against each other.’

Trump said that he was playing the role of mediator between LIV and the PGA to try to expedite the resolution. 

‘They are all great people, and they want to work it out,’ Trump added. ‘So, if I can help work it out … I don’t get anything out of it. I can help them work it out. 

‘I just think golf – it’s very much an individual sport, and you want to see the best players playing against each other and not playing in two different locations.’

At one point, the President was asked if the LIV-PGA deal was more challenging than trying to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

‘I think the PGA deal is much more complicated,’ he said with a smile and laughs from those around him.

Woods also believes that there’s a chance for this prolonged saga to come to an end soon.

‘I think that things are going to heal quickly,’ Woods said at the Genesis Invitational. ‘We’re going to get this game going in the right direction. It’s been heading in the wrong direction for a number of years and the fans want all of us to play together, all the top players playing together, and we’re going to make that happen.’