PHOENIX — PGA Tour officials met with President Donald Trump on Tuesday, the tour said, in its first public acknowledgement of his role in potentially clearing the way for the tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund to strike a completed deal to ultimately reunify the men’s professional game.

PGA Tour Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan is thanking President Donald Trump for helping the tour close in on a deal with the Saudi backers of LIV Golf.

Trump has been eager to step into the conversations between the PGA Tour and PIF since taking office and stated before the election that he could strike a deal between the two sides in 15 minutes. The President has relationships with both the PGA Tour and the PIF; his golf courses have been utilized by both circuits to hold tournaments.