The appearance of Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and LIV Golf Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan at UFC 309 in New York City has sparked renewed speculation about a potential merger in the world of golf.

Taking place at Madison Square Garden, the event fueled rumors about possible collaborations between traditional golf tours and the Saudi-backed LIV Golf organization.

The LIV Golf League, under the Saudi Public Investment Fund, has been vying to establish itself as a significant player in the golfing world by attracting top talent through substantial financial offers. Trump’s known affinity for golf and his connections with Saudi Arabia have spurred discussions about the potential for negotiations between LIV Golf and traditional tours like the PGA and DP World Tours.

In June 2023, the golf world was treated to news of a “framework agreement” for a merger between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and LIV Golf. This deal, although not yet finalized, represents a move towards resolving the ongoing tensions within the sport’s elite circles.

A merger of this magnitude involves intricate logistics, including travel schedules and financial reconciliations for LIV Golf defectors. There have been debates surrounding penalties and conditions for those who had previously distanced themselves from the PGA Tour.

On top of this, regulatory barriers presented by U.S. and European antitrust authorities pose additional challenges. These hurdles necessitate a competing entity to persist, pointing to the likelihood that LIV Golf might continue under a revised structure.

Rory McIlroy, who is currently part of the PGA and European Tours, claims that Trump’s recent re-election as U.S. President could bring a smooth merger between the PGA and LIV Tours. He explained, as quoted by TalkSport:

“[Trump has] got Elon Musk, who I think is the smartest man in the world beside him, so he might be able to do something if we can get Musk involved too.

“But from the outside looking in I think it’s probably a little bit less complicated than it actually is.

“But obviously Trump has a great relationship with Saudi Arabia, he’s got a great relationship with golf, he’s a lover of golf, so maybe. Who knows?

“But as the president of the United States again he’s probably got bigger things to focus on than golf.”

This comes after a report from The Sun stating that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is prepared to pay $1 billion to become a part of the PGA Tour. However, this is yet to be confirmed.