Tiger Woods, Jay Monahan meet with Donald Trump over LIV merger

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, Tiger Woods and Adam Scott met with President Donald Trump and Saudi businessman Yasir Al-Rumayyan on Thursday at the White House to discuss a merger with LIV Golf.

Woods confirmed an initial meeting took place last week that he was unable to attend, adding in public comments on Sunday that he would be present for the next "imminent meeting," purportedly referencing the gathering Thursday in Washington.

"We have just concluded a constructive working session at the White House with President Trump and H.E. Yasir Al-Rumayyan," said a statement Thursday evening attributed to Monahan, Woods and Scott. "Thanks to the leadership of President Trump, we have initiated a discussion about the reunification of golf. We are committed to moving as quickly as possible and will share additional details as appropriate.

"We share a passion for the game and the importance of reunification. Most importantly, we all want the best players in the world playing together more often and are committed to doing all we can to deliver that outcome for our fans."

The meeting comes more than 20 months after Monahan and Al-Rumayyan, the governor of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), shocked the sports world by announcing a "framework agreement" to have the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf merge. The sides have been unable to progress to a final agreement.

Woods said during the Genesis Invitational final round broadcast that a meeting between the two sides was imminent and he felt an agreement was possible this year.

Monahan and Scott, a prominent player on the PGA Tour and the policy board player director, met with Trump at the White House earlier this month. Monahan publicly stated he welcomed Trump's involvement in negotiations.

Woods, who played a round of golf with Trump this month, assessed that negotiations were in a "very positive place right now."

"I think that things are going to heal quickly. We're going to get this game going in the right direction," Woods said during last week's tournament broadcast. "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."

Later Thursday afternoon, Woods appeared alongside Trump at the White House reception for Black History Month.

Al-Rumayyan has played golf with Trump. PIF is a benefactor of LIV Golf and Trump's private businesses.

--Field Level Media