The Open Championship is not going to be held at Trump Turnberry Golf Resort in Scotland as the former president Donald Trump claimed last month.
The R&A (the governing body of the tournament) has said that Turnberry won’t be considered to host the British Open so long as the course is affiliated with Trump, due to the security risks. This was reported by The Telegraph.
Turnberry hosted the Open Championship for the first time in 1977. Tom Watson narrowly beat Jack Nicklaus by a stroke. Turnberry hosted the Open Championship three times more, the most recent being in 2009. However, the course hasn’t been used since the Trump Organization purchased it in 2014.
More: Take a look at the golf courses that Donald Trump owns
Eric Trump, executive Vice President of the Trump Organization, told The Telegraph that his family remains ‘deeply committed’ to the Open Championship, whenever the call comes. He also said, “My Family is deeply committed Scotland and has a singular focus: preserving Turnberry Golf Course as the best in the world.”
Trump properties have never hosted any of the four major men’s golf tournaments – the Masters, PGA Championships, U.S. Opens and Open Championships – although Trump golf courses has held some PGA Tour events and LPGA.
The PGA of America Board of Directors canceled the 2022 PGA Championship at Trump’s Bedminster Golf Course in New Jersey shortly after the attack on the United States Capitol in 2021. The 2022 PGA Championship took place at Southern Hills Country Club, Tulsa in Oklahoma, for a fifth time.
LIV Golf has, however, been a part of Trump properties. LIV Golf, the controversial Saudi-funded league, has hosted three tournaments on a Trump property.
Trump was asked by a reporter last month if he believed that the LIV events were held at his golf courses as a reward for the policies he implemented while in office which were favorable to Saudi Arabia. He replied “not at all”. Trump also said that the courses received a rental fee but refused to specify the amount of money involved.
“It is peanuts to me.” Trump said, “This is peanuts.” “They use Trump courses because they are the best.” It’s very simple.”
Contributing: Jordan Mendoza, Tom Schad
