Former US President Donald Trump has once again taken aim at the PGA Tour for their 'mishandling' of the civil war currently engulfing golf.
Controversial Saudi-backed series LIV plays its season finale at Trump's National course near Miami this weekend, and the 76-year-old took part in a pro-am ahead of the event.
Trump also said more 'big names' are on their way to LIV as he briefly spoke to reporters after his round.
“The Tour mishandled it so badly," he said. “The people at the top... something should happen with them. They mishandled it so badly.
"They not only had an advantage, they are dealing with very good people with unlimited money. They’re good people with unlimited money. And something could have been worked out very easily.
“And the Tour decided to go, as Richard Nixon said, to stonewall it. That didn’t work out too well for them. As we said before, what they did is bad for golf.
"They could have had something so incredible. And now they’ve punched into the pension fund in order to lift up prize money. And the players are not happy with that, the pension fund. So it’s going to be very interesting.
“And by the way, a lot of other people are coming over. Big names. You know that. The star system is always very important in sports. Whether it’s sports or anything else. And they’ve got the stars."
Players including Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau will play for their share of the £43m on offer in the team event that draws the curtain on LIV's inaugural season.
But Trump says the series is not going anywhere. "They actually love golf," he added. "The Saudis have done a fantastic job. You hear the music, a lot of different things. But this (pro-am) was a lot of fun. And I think they’re going to have a really good time.
“I think this is great for golf. I think the Tour really blew a great opportunity. They missed it by so much. Now they’re in such a different position.’’
