After the golf establishment ostracised Trump and his courses – the PGA Tour stopped playing at Trump Doral, the PGA of America abandoned staging the US PGA Championship at Trump Bedminster and the R&A sent Trump Turnberry so far down the heap in the Open rota that it is fighting with the worms for recognition – the Saudis stuck by him. In the first two years of LIV, five events were played on the Trump courses, including two grand finals.

Not only that, but Trump was allowed to show up in his Maga hat and use the competitions almost like staging points on his election rally. He teed it up alongside Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the PIF governor and LIV chairman, in the pro-ams and was greeted with open arms by the LIV players. They made him feel special again in a golf setting and, together with the $2 billion that PIF invested in his son-in-law’s equity firm, acted just like golfing pals should.

So of course, Trump would be in their corner. It would be payback time and the fact that Al-Rumayyan would, with a deal in place, command a huge influence on the direction the pro sport takes, the Trump portfolio would only benefit. It owns 15 courses and, as its website declares, these span “from Scotland to Palm Beach, Los Angeles to Dubai”. “Trump Golf is home to a collection of the most iconic golf properties and championship courses in the world,” it adds.

Everyone would be a winner. Except Turnberry. Because even if Trump became emperor of the galaxy, the R&A would still choose hell first. In golf, you simply cannot win every time.