The Round Table: foreign winners, Trump aid, and LIV Golf exemptions

Each week, we ask our panel of writers, PGA members and golf industry experts to weigh in with their views on the hot topics of the day.

The PGA Tour has completed six events so far in 2025 but only Harris English has managed a win for the Americans. Hideki Matsuyama (Japan), Nick Taylor (Canada), Sepp Straka (Austria), Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) and Thomas Detry (Belgium) have driven an International stake through U.S. hearts. From many perspectives, this global sharing of the wealth looks like a good thing for the Tour but may not be popular with American fans on a long-term basis. What do you think?

Jim Deeks, Fairways Magazine (@jimdeeks): Sadly, most American golf fans don’t care much for non-Americans, unlike we Canadians who are delighted to see other nationals do well (especially our own, of course!)   We’ve seen this reality on the LPGA, where American dominance has shrunk drastically over the last 15 years.  I think the women’s game is far more interesting than it used to be, even though I admit that many of the Asian stars are somewhat indistinguishable.  But to your question, PGA Tour ratings have been declining, and the growing success of non-US players on the Tour is not going to help.  Maybe Trump will ban foreign players from playing.  Then he’ll rename it the Trump Tour.

Craig Loughry, Golf Ontario (@craigloughry): Maybe Trump can toss a tariff on all non-American PGA Tour wins to deter “internationals” from winning or even joining the PGA Tour? I do get confused with the PGA Tour’s desire/vision. Are they a global Tour, are they a global brand? Or are they just an American Tour/league that is almost completely domestically based?  In general, I think International winners are a good thing for the (global) game of golf, generating more interest. That said, I don’t think it sits well with most Americans. And the PGA Tour doesn’t seem to really care as long as there is good entertainment, interest (good or bad really), and exposure.

Michael Schurman, Master Professional / Hall of Fame Member, PGA of Canada: Couldn’t care less what Americans think. They botched the greatest TOUR in the world through stupidity and ignorance. America isn’t the only country in the world that plays golf. In fact, part of their mandate is to ‘grow’ the game. With a schedule expanded beyond North America, they could have attracted mega sponsors, thwarted competition from outside sources and fulfilled their mandate. Jay Monahan is the Grim Reaper in disguise. His annual income is nearly $20M for a result that might yet cause a crash in more of their sponsor’s allegiance. I also no longer care about Tiger Woods. I wish him well. I love his ‘now’ swing, but I’m fed up following him finishing 50th, missing the cut or dropping out while dominating the telecast. BTW, Charlie is cute but going nowhere in golf. Does anybody know the names of Arnie’s children? As far as non-Americans winning a lot, I LOVE it!

TJ Rule, Golf Away Tours (@GolfAwayTJ): Personally, I think it’s great, and if the powers that be want this to be a global game, they should be celebrating the fact that players from around the world are winning in the USA.  It bodes well for a great Ryder Cup competition this fall in NYC.

Hal Quinn, Freelance Writer, Vancouver: All the MAGGA (Make Americans Golf Great Again) mouth breathers are trying to figure out how these guys got visas and how to deport them while the rest of the world is celebrating. It’s great for the game but not the US-centric Tour and its sponsors. The LPGA Tour has long desperately needed to have domestic winners, and now the PGA Tour is getting close. Things can get very xenophobic real quick in Trumpland.

Peter Mumford, Fairways Magazine (@FairwaysMag): The majority of the Tour’s fans and sponsors are American, but I believe they’re like most other golfers and first and foremost they want to see entertaining golf. If their guy happens to win, even better. However, there are a few hair-on-fire types that will be moaning the loss of U.S. superiority, the decline of American golf and disaster at the Ryder Cup. Chill dudes! Scottie Scheffler is back and this could all even out shortly.

The PGA Tour appears to be putting a full court press on Donald Trump. Last week Commissioner Jay Monahan and Adam Scott went to the White House to lobby the President for his help in furthering a deal with the Saudi PIF. Remember during the election campaign Trump said he would get that deal done in 15 minutes once he became President. Then on Sunday Tiger Woods played golf with the Donald in Florida. Presumably it’s all about getting the U.S. Justice Department to go soft on a merger although Monahan phrased it somewhat differently, “We asked the president to get involved [in PIF negotiations] for the good of the game, the good of the country, and for all the countries involved.” What’s your take on this latest gambit?

Deeks: That quote of Monahan’s is both laughable and nauseating.  Frankly, I just don’t understand why the PGA Tour even wants a merger with LIV at this point.  LIV has proven to be a disaster, and why would the Tour care if DeChambeau, Koepka, Smith, and Rahm get back in?  They made their decision based on greed, and disrespect for their Tour “brothers”.  I say good riddance to all of them.  Let those shriveled grapes die on the vine.  And what the hell do they expect Agent Orange to do?

Loughry: Some of those comments are a crock of crap from Monahan, he wants something done to save his own job and the PGA Tour, full stop. For the “Good of the game” is a stretch. And what the Hell does for the good of all countries involved mean? The last I checked courses are jammed and we’re at peak (all-time) participation levels pretty much everywhere, but yes, this would be good for Men’s Professional Golf. Until resolved, I’ll just continue to look forward to Majors, and the odd Tour event.

Schurman: Sorry, Adam (because you seem like a decent person to me), but Monahan and Trump are two ‘peas in a pod’. Neither one gives a damn about golf. Each only cares about the benefit for themselves. When the PGA TOUR has to ask an outside influence to support its position, it admits they have lost the argument in value and now is about to lose its integrity. If their position was valid, they wouldn’t need help from anyone. There is no right way to do the wrong thing.

Rule: What could go wrong?  I’m sure it’ll all be for the greater good and won’t benefit any individuals specifically if he helps them work something out.  It’ll all be on the up and up, right?  Just let me know when it’s all over.

Quinn: It is such a sad (revolting?) state of affairs when the Tour is courting as its saviors a convicted felon and a massively corrupt, murderous regime. No matter how this ends — ideally with the unceremonious demise of LIV — the stains collected on the Tour’s bended knees at Mar-a-Largo and Riyadh will never be lifted.

Mumford: I suppose it doesn’t hurt to have Trump on your side as long as you understand he’s going to take credit for making a deal happen, whether he did anything or not. However, I do take exception to Monahan’s statement that getting a deal done with PIF is good for the game. It may be good for the PGA Tour and the players but it ain’t gonna change my game a smidge, nor anyone else I play with. The game is doing just fine thanks very much, in spite of the Tour shooting itself in the foot on almost every occasion.

The USGA provided a bit of legitimacy for LIV Golf last week by creating an exemption category into the U.S. Open for a Top 3 LIV golfer not otherwise qualified. They also exempted the Top 10 golfers from local qualifying for the 2026 U.S. Open. Both are relatively small but significant steps for LIV Golf as it struggles to find direct pathways to the majors without world ranking points. Do you like this move by the USGA and do you think the other majors will do something similar?

Deeks: No.  And I hope not.

Loughry: I like this move by the USGA (making a path for top LIV Players), a few of them are world-class top 10 players on the planet. They should have a spot in those fields. I also think other Majors will make some amendments to improve their fields too. Augusta will no doubt continue to do what they do best and invite who they want from LIV to participate in the Masters, and those players will be deserving of the invite.

Schurman: Yes, I like it! The debate was never about Saudi Arabia’s (LIV) politics. It was always about competition. Of course, I’d never support their politics, but that is not what this was about. It’s about power and money, and the US TOUR found out that although they are solvent and have strong finances, they don’t have the loyalty of every player, and they don’t have the deepest pockets. LIV has multiple players who can contend and win majors; they are entitled to display their skills to the world. If the US TOUR thinks they are the finest group of players in the world, how do they explain their results in the Ryder Cup?

Rule: Look, the last winner of the US Open is a LIV player.  If they don’t do something now, they never will.  I am ok with the move.  There are several players at LIV that are legitimately great players, and we all just want the best players playing the majors, don’t we?  It’s a small gesture, but probably the right one after all these years.  I don’t think they need to offer any more than that though at this time. Maybe this is the start of the Tours coming together. I’m sure Trump will take credit for this decision by the USGA.

Quinn: One can only hope that the other Majors retain a semblance of dignity. The guys knew full well what they were giving up when they cashed the massive cheques. That price has to be paid, in full.

Mumford: By any measure, LIV Golf has some of the best golfers in the world and it wouldn’t be out of line to give a couple more exemptions to them – maybe three spots out of their Top 10, in addition to any player already exempt. As for the other majors following suit, the R&A has already announced a new pathway for LIV golfers and the PGA of America has issued invitations. It’s difficult to understand why Augusta hasn’t been more inclusive. They currently invite some golfers that are clearly inferior to the top LIV players.