President Donald Trump and PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan were together before the final round of LIV Golf’s event at Trump National Bedminster on Sunday. They stood side-by-side in the player dining room, as Trump extolled the playing accomplishments of legend Gary Player, who was also in the room.

Bubba Watson’s caddie, Gabe Sauer, published the video to his Instagram story. As Trump exited the clubhouse and was photographed by wire services, Al-Rumayyan was in the background.

While Trump has routinely visited LIV tournaments held on his properties, it’s not immediately clear what Al-Rumayyan’s intentions are for being in New Jersey. He was previously chairman of the board for LIV and widely seen as its biggest supporter within Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, until the PIF pulled future funding from the rebel golf league in April.

“The substantial investment required by LIV Golf over a longer term is no longer consistent with the current phase of PIF’s investment strategy. This decision has been made in light of PIF’s investment priorities and current macro dynamics,” the PIF explained in a statement at the time.

Since the PIF decided to pull away from LIV, an investment that cost it billions of dollars, LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil has been searching for a new funding source that would allow the four-year-old league to continue until 2027.

He claimed Wednesday to have found a new “lead” investor, though he declined to provide specifics. Bloomberg reported that BC Partners Credit was considering a loan, and the Financial Times indicated that the PIF was considering paying off remaining player contracts to settle any potential liability. Multiple players, most notably Jon Rahm, could be convinced to stay with LIV and be given equity in “LIV 2.0” as a result.

Ted Goldthorpe, head of BC Partners Credit, was also in the same room at Trump Bedminster as Trump and Al-Rumayyan, per a source with direct knowledge. They were granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

A LIV Golf spokesperson did not immediately return a request for comment on Al-Rumayyan’s presence.

Al-Rumayyan’s portfolio extends far beyond the sporting world, but the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, which has limited oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz, has hurt the Saudi Arabian economy.

Everton are in talks to sign Brennan Johnson from Crystal Palace in a deal that could see Dwight McNeil move to Selhurst Park.

Johnson, 25, only joined Palace from Tottenham Hotspur in January, while McNeil, 26, has been at Everton since the summer of 2022. The latter was close to a move to Palace in the winter transfer window, before the transfer fell through due to the relevant paperwork not being completed on time.

However, talks between the two clubs are continuing over a move that would see the two wingers complete transfers.

McNeil has one year remaining on his Everton contract while Johnson has been a long-term target for the Merseyside club, dating back to his spell at Nottingham Forest which preceded his move to Tottenham Hotspur.

McNeil was close to completing a loan move to Palace in January (George Wood via Getty Images)

Johnson joined Palace in a deal worth £35million (€40m; $47m), a then-club record transfer fee, from Spurs earlier this year.

However, the Wales international has failed to make a significant impact at the south London club. He has made 26 appearances, starting 16 games and providing two assists. He was an unused substitute in Palace’s UEFA Conference League final victory over Rayo Vallecano in May.

McNeil, meanwhile, has spent four seasons at Everton since moving from Burnley four years ago. The former England youth international, who previously spent time in Manchester United’s youth academy, has scored 15 goals and provided 19 assists in 128 games for the Merseyside club.

Last season, the versatile winger, who has also been deployed in attacking midfield roles, was deemed surplus to requirements at Everton. McNeil saw a deadline day loan-with-obligation move to Palace collapse late in the window. He had undergone a medical and a deal sheet had been filed, granting Palace a further two hours after the deadline to complete the move, but the final paperwork never arrived. The deadline passed without further communication from the south London club.

McNeil shared a lengthy Instagram post from his partner Megan Sharpley following the collapse of the deadline day deal. The post read: “(To have something) torn away from you at the last second, with absolutely no explanation.

“Going from everything — to radio silence, no phone call, no communication, and be left, broken hearted with nothing but confusion hurts more than I can say.”