08 April 2024 , 03:00
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Donald Trump's ties with LIV Golf have come under the spotlight after the former US President missed this week's pro-am event.
Trump, who is hoping to be re-elected as US President this year, has previously played in LIV's pro-am event. He recently boasted about his wins at his own Trump International in West Palm Beach, bagging the club championship and senior club championship.
Many anticipated Trump, who will take on incumbent US President Joe Biden in a repeat of the 2020 election, might show off his golfing prowess once again at LIV Golf Miami. Yet the 77-year-old has decided against doing so.
Posting on his Truth Social page, his alternative social media platform to X, Trump wrote: "It is my great honour to be at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach tonight, AWARDS NIGHT, to receive THE CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY & THE SENIOR CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY. I WON BOTH!"
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Trump's passion for golf is well-documented, spanning his days as a business mogul and television personality, and even during his tenure in the Oval Office. Last year, he hit the links at a LIV event with Brooks Koepka and played alongside Sergio Garcia.
But questions linger over Trump's association with LIV and his reasons for backing the controversial league, which is funded by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF). From the outset, Trump has been entwined with LIV Golf, staging tournaments at his properties in Florida and openly endorsing the Saudi Arabian leaders bankrolling the league.
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Donald Trump has been an avid golfer throughout his life (Alex Brandon/AP/REX/Shutterstock)This support persists despite the controversy surrounding the PIF's funding, with detractors accusing the series of 'sportswashing'. Trump hasn't been shy in defending PIF - stating his long-standing relationship with many of those involved in the fund.
While hosting last summer, he said: "I’ve known these people for a long time. They've been friends of mine for a long time… frankly, what they’re doing for golf is so great. What they’re doing for the players is so great. The salaries are going to go way up."
Trump took on the task of hosting the highlight event of the new league's first season in 2022. His National Doral course in Miami had the honour of hosting LIV's final team championship.
The Saudi-backed series' 12 teams contended for an eye-watering $50million (£39.6m) prize pool on the grounds belonging to Trump. Fast-forward to the following season in 2023, Trump hosted multiple further events - including fixtures at his Bedminster and Miami courses remaining cemented on the schedule, and his Washington D. C. course making its appearance as a new arena for the league.
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story.