Question of the week [February 10-16]: Share your thoughts on President Donald Trump being asked to join the negotiations between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabian backers of rival LIV Golf?
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The president of the United States has no business involving himself in golf negotiations. He has been elected to provide the safety of our country and that's what his time should be devoted to. There are enough real golf people to take care of the negotiations.
Bob Norris
Cincinnati, Ohio
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Despite his polarizing nature, President Trump is an avid golfer and owner of numerous golf facilities. As such, he is an active part of the global golf community with a real stake in the future and well-being of our great game. If he can use his influence and bully pulpit to get these seemingly endless negotiations over the line, then that is a good thing. To state the obvious, this proposed transaction between the PGA Tour and the Public Investment Fund has been going on for far too long. Something must be done, and if the president can assist, then I am all for it.
Reid Farrill
Toronto, Ontario
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You would like to think that POTUS would have a few things better to do than get involved in this childish schoolyard squabble, but if he has time to worry about paper straws, the name of a mountain in Alaska, and who is playing on what sports team in high school, I guess nothing is too petty.
Tom Klabunde
Tempe, Arizona
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While I’m sure this question will elicit outrage from many who suffer from Trump derangement syndrome, this makes perfect sense. President Donald Trump owns multiple courses in many countries, has close ties with people on both sides of the negotiations, and has a track record of successful mediations. Who better to try unraveling this mess caused by PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and exacerbated by players like Rory McIlroy, who now is walking back his earlier incendiary comments about LIV?
In the bigger picture, it’s actually a frivolous matter: multimillionaires on both sides trying to figure out how to make even more money. Not exactly rising to the level of Ukraine vs. Russia or Hamas vs. Israel. That being said, the president could certainly be a huge help.
Vinny Mooney
Poughkeepsie, New York
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President Donald Trump loves the game of golf. He is a proven deal maker and has the ability to cut through regulation. If the PGA Tour truly wants to make a deal with LIV (although at this point, I’m not clear why), then why wouldn’t you want our president on your team? Keep in mind that during President Trump's first term, the PGA Tour cancelled an iconic tour venue at Trump Doral. Maybe while they have an audience with the oresident, find a way back to the Blue Monster.
Jim Branchick
Lyon Township, Michigan
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This is hilarious. The guy who has bankrupted six businesses, including casinos and wants to develop another Mar-a-Lago on top of the demolished Gaza Strip ... I mean, what could possibly go wrong?
As Winston Churchill once pointed out, "America can be depended to do the right thing, after all others have been attempted."
Pete Croppo
Bayfield, Ontario
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President Donald Trump has more important things to deal with than to deal with the PGA Tour and LIV. Saudi Arabia will just keep throwing millions of dollars into LIV because it has the money to do so. Unfortunately, the PGA Tour players that moved to LIV became disloyal to the tour. Where would they be if it wasn’t for the tour? Those players certainly didn’t need to go to LIV because they already make millions of dollars and make even more on the products that they endorse.
Robert Floresca
Wilmington, North Carolina
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Along with his many other negative attributes, Donald Trump is vindictive. Rejected by the PGA Tour in the past, we can hardly expect his participation in future negotiations will be fair and unbiased.
Not a good idea.
Tony Austin
Orlando, Florida
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It's hard for me to believe that there's even a thought that the president should become involved in these negotiations. What is there to negotiate? LIV has money to burn. A minuscule number of fans watch LIV Golf. It's a huge money grab for the players in the league. Might I take the money if I were in those player's shoes? Probably, as long as you're OK with now being an afterthought on the pro level. Whoever mentions Jon Rahm anymore? Or Dustin Johnson? Or several others. Sure they're multimillionaires now, but the PGA Tour can't compete with LIV's money. So just run the PGA Tour in the best way you can. Those guys will fade into obscurity in time.
Stan Nykiel
Darien, Illinois
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Does it really matter whether Club 54 and the PGA Tour asks for Trump's help or not? Either way he'll take credit only for successful results.
If the results are not favorable he'll say he never heard of LIV Golf, but he's surely going to put a 25% tariff on it. The whole negotiation is a clown show, so why not bring in another clown?
Robert Fish
Sun Lakes Arizona
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Front: Donald Trump during the pro-am of LIV Golf Washington 2023 held at Trump National Golf Club in Washington D.C.
Picture: Mateo Villalba | Golffile