Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Saturday, Feb 21, 2026

Report: Trump Organization in talks to host controversial Saudi golf league

Report: Trump Organization in talks to host controversial Saudi golf league

Much remains uncertain around the upcoming Saudi Arabian golf league, particularly which golfers will participate, but what is definitely known is that it will be backed by an extraordinarily controversial government with rampant human rights violations.

Still, the idea of well-funded operation intending to rival the PGA Tour has drawn interest from people around golf, and now former President Donald Trump's company is reportedly getting involved.

The Trump Organization is in talks with LIV Golf Investments, the Saudi-backed organization putting the league together, to host events at courses owned by the former president, according to The Washington Post.

Among the courses reportedly discussed as sites for the nascent tour are Trump's courses in Bedminster, New Jersey, and Doral, Florida. Trump's Turnberry course has also hosted four British Opens, which could make it attractive for a rival tour.

Why would Trump host a Saudi-backed golf tour?


It's not hard to see why Trump would be interested in getting involved with a Saudi Arabian golf league, despite the country's past and ongoing human rights violations.

When he was president, Trump was a frequent defender of Saudi Arabia at home and on the world stage, even after the Saudis' murder of Washington Post reporter Jamal Khashoggi. He vetoed a number of congressional attempts to censure the country, had his administration block defense spending bills proposals that could have created oversight for arm sales to the Saudis and helped block a U.N. Security Council Resolution demanding accountability for war crimes in Yemen.

Now out of office, it's hard to imagine Trump's opinion of the country has changed at all.

It's also hard to imagine Trump's opinion of the PGA has changed. Trump was bitter when the PGA Tour moved its WGC Championship from his Doral course to Mexico City in 2016, then the PGA moved the 2022 PGA Championship from his Bedminster course to Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

Then there's the financial aspect of the potential move. It's no secret that Saudi Arabia has decided to use sports as a way of improving its international standing, pushing to host pretty much every event it can get its hands on. That includes UFC events, boxing matches, WWE events, horse races, Formula 1 races and, of course golf.

The Saudis have dropped incredible amounts of money while doing this, and it figures to continue as their golf tour gets off the ground. Meanwhile, Trump's courses have been widely reported to be hemorrhaging money since he became president.

With all those reasons, a Saudi event on a Trump course almost felt inevitable.

There are multiple reasons why Donald Trump would want to host a Saudi golf event.


Much remains unknown with Saudi organization


We still don't know who exactly will be playing in the Saudi golf tour or where those events will be, but the picture has been slowly coming into focus.

Hall of Famer Greg Norman has already been selected as the tour's commissioner, and there have been whispers of several PGA Tour golfers preparing to jump ship, despite the PGA Tour's warnings of a lifetime ban.

The highly controversial Saudi International may prove to be a good indicator of which players are interested. Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Lee Westwood, Xander Schauffele, Tony Finau, Matthew Wolff, Bubba Watson and Sergio Garcia all participated in the event despite the ire of the PGA.

Mickelson's rationalizations may have been the most informative comments on why a player would consider joining the Saudis, which he called "scary motherf***ers in his recent book. In the end, it was about the money, no matter who is signing the checks:

“They killed [Washington Post reporter Jamal] Khashoggi and have a horrible record on human rights,” Mickelson said in the book, according to an excerpt Shipuck posted on the Fire Pit Collective on Thursday. “They execute people over there for being gay. Knowing all of this, why would I even consider it?

“Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates.”

Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Concerns Mount Over Potential Saudi Uranium Enrichment in Prospective US Nuclear Accord
Trump Directs Government to Release UFO and Alien Information
Trump Signs Global 10% Tariffs on Imports
Investability Emerges as the Defining Test of Saudi Arabia’s Next Market Phase
Saudi Arabia’s Packaging Market Accelerates as Sustainability and E-Commerce Drive Transformation
Saudi Arabia’s Strategic Minerals Drive Offers Lessons for Europe’s Supply Chain Ambitions
Saudi Arabia Unveils $32 Billion Push Into Theme Parks and Global Entertainment
Saudi Crude Exports to India Climb Sharply, Closing Gap With Russia
Saudi Arabia’s Halal Cosmetics Market Expands as Faith and Ethical Beauty Drive Growth
United Kingdom Denies U.S. Access to Military Base for Potential Iran Strike
ImmunityBio Secures Saudi Partnerships to Launch Flagship Cancer Therapy
Türkiye and Saudi Arabia Launch Expanded Renewable Energy Partnership
US Supreme Court Voids Trump’s Emergency Tariff Plan, Reshaping Trade Power and Fiscal Risk
UK Intensifies Efforts to Secure Saudi Investment in Next-Generation Fighter Jet Programme
Saudi Arabia Tops Middle East Green Building Rankings with Record Growth in 2025
Qatar and Saudi Arabia Each Commit One Billion Dollars to President Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ Initiative
Ramadan 2026 Prayer Times Set as Fasting Begins in Saudi Arabia and Egypt Announces Dates
Saudi Arabia Launches Ramadan 2026 Hotel Campaign to Boost Religious and Leisure Tourism
Saudi Arabia Seeks Reroute of Greece-Bound Fibre-Optic Cable Through Syria Instead of Israel
Saudi-Backed Scopely Acquires Majority Stake in Turkey’s Loom Games to Expand Mobile Portfolio
Zodiac Milpro Launches Zid Marine Joint Venture in Saudi Arabia to Expand Regional Shipbuilding
Saudi Arabia Reaffirms Reform Path Amid Claims of Ideological Reversal
Calls Grow for Saudi Arabia and UAE to Settle Differences Through Direct Dialogue
Jensen Huang just told the story of how Elon Musk became NVIDIA’s very first customer for their powerful AI supercomputer
British couple sentenced to 10 years in Iran for espionage
Former British Prince Andrew Arrested on Suspicion of Misconduct in Public Office
Unitree Robotics founder Wang Xingxing showcases future robot deployment during Spring Festival Gala.
Prince William Holds Talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman During Saudi Visit
Saudi Arabia’s Humain Commits $3 Billion Investment to Elon Musk’s xAI
SCOPA Executive Unveils Ambitious Relaunch Strategy for Saudi Production Company
Saudi Arabia Sees Rise in Business Visa Rejections Amid Tighter Compliance Checks
Saudi PIF Transfers Take-Two Stake to Savvy Games Group in Strategic Gaming Push
Jimmy Carr Says He ‘Loved’ Saudi Arabia Show Amid Debate Over Performing in the Kingdom
Sotheby’s ‘Origins II’ Auction Signals Saudi Collectors’ Shift Toward Cultural Legacy
EY and Microsoft Deepen Saudi Arabia Partnership with Launch of EY Studio+
Google Pay Launches Support for Mastercard Cards in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia Bolsters Maritime Surveillance Fleet with Four C-27J Patrol Aircraft
Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia Deepen Strategic Partnership with New Investment and Energy Agreements
Saudi Crown Prince Receives Written Message from Kazakhstan’s President Amid Expanding Strategic Ties
ImmunityBio Shares Rise After Saudi Arabia BCG Manufacturing Update Spurs Investor Optimism
Global Music Star Tyla Confirmed as Headliner at 2026 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Entertainment Lineup
Somalia and Saudi Arabia Forge New Military Partnership Amid Regional Power Shifts
Saudi Arabia and Several Nations Criticize Israeli West Bank Land Measures as Diplomatic Tensions Rise
Saudi Public Investment Fund Transfers Stake in Take-Two Interactive as Portfolio Strategy Evolves
Saudi Arabia’s Flagship Defense Expo Highlights Industrial Ambitions and Expanding Arms Portfolio
Strategic Divergence Deepens as Saudi Arabia and UAE Recalibrate Gulf Partnership
Saudi Arabia Confirms Start of Ramadan as Crescent Moon Sighted, While Other Nations Begin a Day Later
Rubio Calls for Sweeping U.N. Reform, Saying It Has Failed to End Wars in Gaza and Ukraine
10,000 Condoms Distributed at Winter Olympics 2026 Athlete Village Depleted Within 72 Hours
Prince William Meets Saudi Crown Prince as Epstein-Andrew Fallout Casts Shadow
×