Flashback: Donald Trump predicted the PGA-LIV merger a year ago

The PGA Tour will officially merge with LIV Golf, the Saudi-backed golf league, in a shock bid to squash the antitrust lawsuits brewing between the two corporations. It’s a surprising move considering the PGA Tour executives and some of their high-profile players, such as Rory McIlroy, spent the past year morally shaming the pros who defected.

But one man who was not shocked was former president Donald Trump, whose organization hosts LIV events at his courses. In July 2022, Trump wrote on Truth Social:

All those golfers who remain “loyal” to the very disloyal PGA, in all its different forms, will pay a big price when the inevitable MERGER with LIV comes, and you get nothing but a big “thank you” from PGA officials who are making Millions of Dollars a year. If you don’t take the money now, you will get nothing after the merger takes place, and only say how smart the original signees were. Good luck to all, and congratulations to the really talented Cam Smith on his incredible WIN!

The PGA made the case that the hundreds of millions being offered to golfers who joined LIV was blood-stained due to the Saudis’ human rights offenses and that it was offensive to the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Meanwhile, Cam Smith, Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka and other top players seemed to think the prospect of tons of money, no tournament cuts and fewer overall rounds of golf was too good to pass up. Koepka busted the trope that LIV would make these golfers less competitive by winning the PGA Championship and being in contention at the Masters.

Trump was also unsqueamish about the possibility of working with the Saudis: his son-in-law Jared Kushner used to regularly exchange WhatsApp messages with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the leader who ordered the execution and dismembering of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

As for Trump’s golfing? Kevin Cook recounted what it’s like to play with 45 in the June edition of The Spectator World:

“He was never less than great company. He takes a lusty swing at the ball and plays fast, barreling up fairways in his electric cart, driving onto the green and waving at players who salute as he plays through.

“He has often been called a cheater, but Trump doesn’t cheat any more than most weekend golfers, and not only for his benefit. ‘You tried so hard there,’ he’ll say. ‘I’m giving us both pars.’

“He is quick with the needle. I was in mid-swing when he said, ‘Don’t worry about the lake on the right.’ At one hole he dared ‘anyone anywhere’ to beat his drive. When my ball got a lucky bounce and rolled a yard past his, he called it ‘a miracle. And I don’t want to see your underwear after that swing!’

“We were playing Trump National Westchester when a camera crew appeared. ‘Don’t worry about them,’ he said. ‘They’re from The Apprentice.’ At the thirteenth hole, a long par-three beside a manmade waterfall, he smacked his tee shot into the water. He hit another ball. Bang — another splash. He teed up a third ball, swung harder, and finally reached the green. Technically lying five, he smiled and said, ‘And that’s reality television!’

“When the show aired, he stepped to the tee and knocked his ball on the green.”

The PGA-LIV merger will probably quell the disputes raging within the sport for the past few months, but Cockburn is interested in seeing how the PGA and its self-righteous players will indubitably change their tune on the Saudi question now…