For the past two years, the professional golf world has been locked in a bitter battle between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf—a feud that has divided players, sponsors, and fans alike. But Bubba Watson, one of the most recognizable names to defect to LIV Golf, is hoping for peace at last—not just for the sport’s sake, but for a personal dream he’s long held close to his heart.
Watson, a two-time Masters champion, has one wish: to play in the PNC Championship with his son. But that dream won’t be possible unless the PGA Tour and LIV Golf finally put aside their differences and reach a formal agreement.
“My dream has always been to play with my son there. Maybe it will let me play with my son in the PNC,” Watson said, per The Sydney Morning Herald.
Trump’s Involvement: A Sign That Resolution Is Coming?
The golf world was set ablaze when Donald Trump—a longtime golf enthusiast and course owner—held a private meeting with key PGA Tour figures to discuss solutions for the ongoing standoff.
Watson, for one, believes Trump’s influence could be a game-changer, especially since the former president has long supported LIV Golf and has even hosted events at his courses.
“It’s a good move and people are starting to come around,” Watson said. “They see we are not there to hurt anybody. We are there to grow the game and we are doing it globally.”
But the reality? Negotiations between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf’s financial backers, the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), remain in limbo.
Even Trump, for all his love of golf, has admitted that he has “more important things to deal with”—though that hasn’t stopped him from attempting to broker peace.
Signs of Progress: LIV Golfers Get a British Open Lifeline
While an official merger remains elusive, some signs of progress have started to emerge.
The R&A’s decision to grant British Open exemptions to the top five LIV Golfers at the end of the season marks a major step toward reconciliation.
This move suggests that LIV players won’t be completely shut out from major championships, which had been a major sticking point since the league’s inception.
For Watson and his fellow LIV defectors, this is a step in the right direction—but it doesn’t solve the larger problem of fractured competition and event eligibility.
Final Verdict: Is Golf’s Civil War Coming to an End?
📢 Watson’s optimism is refreshing, but the reality remains: until the PGA Tour and LIV Golf officially strike a deal, the sport will remain divided.
💭 Will Trump’s involvement speed up negotiations?
💭 Will more majors follow the British Open’s lead in allowing LIV players?
💭 And will Bubba Watson finally get his wish to tee up alongside his son at the PNC Championship?
For now, the future of golf remains uncertain—but the tide may finally be turning toward unity.
