The "leadership" of US President Donald Trump has brought a deal to end golf's civil war closer, the PGA Tour has claimed.
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and player director Adam Scott met with Trump on Tuesday as efforts continue to strike a deal between the US-based circuit, the DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which bankrolls LIV Golf.
Talks have been ongoing since the signing of a framework agreement in June 2023.
A statement released on behalf of Monahan, Scott and fellow player director Tiger Woods said: "We know golf fans are eagerly anticipating a resolution to negotiations with the Public Investment Fund and want to thank President Trump for his interest and long-time support of the game of golf.
"We asked the President to get involved for the good of the game, the good of the country, and for all the countries involved.
"We are grateful that his leadership has brought us closer to a final deal, paving the way for reunification of men's professional golf."
Rory McIlroy said in November that he believed Trump becoming US president for the second time could help "clear the way" for a peace deal in golf's civil war.
The four-time major winner had previously said that a 50-50 split between players on both sides and the US Department of Justice represented the biggest obstacles to a deal, with the DOJ having already forced a non-solicitation clause to be removed from the framework agreement.
However, Trump will be able to influence the priorities of the DOJ and has a close relationship with Saudi Arabia and LIV Golf, with several of their 54-hole events being staged at Trump-owned courses.
Speaking the day after the US presidential election, McIlroy was asked if he would be surprised if a deal had already been completed, as was reported in a national newspaper at the weekend.
"Yeah, I would, but then obviously given today's news with what's happened in America, I think that clears the way a little bit. So we'll see," McIlroy said.
McIlroy also agreed with the suggestion that the DOJ being more amenable to a deal would be "a huge moment" and was asked in a separate interview about Trump's claim that he could secure a deal in 15 minutes.
"He might be able to," McIlroy told Sky Sports. "He's got Elon Musk, who I think is the smartest man in the world, beside him. We might be able to do something if we can get Musk involved, too.
"Yeah, I think from the outside looking in, it's probably a little less complicated than it actually is.
"But obviously Trump has a great relationship with Saudi Arabia. He's got a great relationship with golf. He's a lover of golf. So, maybe. Who knows?
"But I think as the President of the United States again, he's probably got bigger things to focus on than golf."
