Golf & PGA Tour — 2026-05-05
The Cadillac Championship wrapped up at Doral last weekend with a presidential visit adding to the excitement, while LIV Golf's existential crisis deepened as the circuit hired an investment bank in a last-ditch survival bid and Belgian star Thomas Pieters declared he would never return to the PGA Tour. With Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund set to end LIV funding after 2026, the tour is fighting for its future on multiple fronts.
Golf & PGA Tour — 2026-05-05
Tournament Recap
Cadillac Championship — Doral
The PGA Tour's Cadillac Championship at TPC Blue Monster in Miami wrapped up on Sunday, May 3, with final-round action drawing notable attention beyond just the leaderboard. President Donald Trump made an appearance at the event, arriving in West Palm Beach after an earlier stop at The Villages near Orlando.
The tournament also notably marked President Trump's renewed enthusiasm for PGA Tour events — a significant reversal from his earlier vocal support for LIV Golf. Yahoo Sports reported that Trump had "officially flipped his allegiances in the PGA Tour vs. LIV Golf battle," having previously called the PGA Tour "stupid" for not allowing players to compete in both circuits.
Business of Golf
LIV Golf Hires Investment Bank to Seek New Funding
With just months left before Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) exits as its financial backer, LIV Golf has hired Ducera Partners — an investment bank — in a bid to secure new funding sources and survive beyond 2026.
LIV is pushing back against doom-and-gloom narratives with its own financial metrics, claiming sponsorships and partnerships are up 40% year-over-year, ticket sales have grown more than 130%, and its broadcast reach is approaching one billion households across 200 countries.
Still, finding a buyer or replacement funding partner willing to match the billions previously injected by PIF remains a monumental challenge, and the clock is ticking.
Thomas Pieters: "I Will Never Return to the PGA Tour"
Belgian LIV golfer and former Ryder Cup player Thomas Pieters made headlines this week by emphatically stating he has zero interest in returning to the PGA Tour — even if LIV Golf folds entirely. In interviews published May 4, Pieters said he was prepared to retire from professional golf rather than return to the PGA Tour, and also shed light on internal discussions within the LIV organization about whether players had been paid.
Pieters' stance contrasts sharply with many LIV players who have reportedly been reaching out to the PGA Tour about potential reinstatement. However, according to Golf Digest reporting from earlier this week, any return pathways for LIV members are expected to be considerably more restrictive than the terms granted to Brooks Koepka when he rejoined the PGA Tour.
Tour Confidential: What Happens to Bryson DeChambeau?
Golf.com's Tour Confidential panel this week examined the biggest question hanging over LIV's future: what happens to marquee names like Bryson DeChambeau if the league collapses? Writers warned that the PGA Tour could face a "potential problem" if DeChambeau returns, as the two-time U.S. Open champion may have his competitive focus and brand priorities elsewhere after years away from the tour grind.
Coming Up
Wells Fargo Championship
The PGA Tour heads to Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina for the Wells Fargo Championship, a signature event on the PGA Tour schedule. The tournament is traditionally a strong preview of the PGA Championship field and features a deep lineup of top-100 players competing for FedExCup points.
Key storylines to watch:
- Whether LIV Golf's ongoing financial turbulence begins to affect player focus and roster stability heading into the summer major season
- The PGA Championship at Quail Hollow later this month will mark the first major played on the course since 2017, making this week's tournament critical prep for the field
- Scottie Scheffler's continued dominance following strong performances in the spring stretch, including his appearance at Doral
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