Report: R&A will not bring British Open to Trump-owned Turnberry
The golf world is continuing to distance itself from Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, with more overseas influences deciding it’s not worth it to do business with Trump.
According to The Independent in the U.K., the R&A has privately decided it will not bring the British Open Championship to the Trump-owned Turnberry in Scotland so long as Trump owns the property. Trump bought Turnberry, which hosted the Women’s British Open this past summer, in 2014 from a Dubai investment group and is in the middle of a reported $250 million renovation of the property, including renovations on the Alisa course which last hosted the Open in 2009.
Prior to Trump’s proposal of a “total shutdown” of Muslims entering the U.S., the resort was in line to host the 2020 or 2021 Open. However, several quotes attributed in the Independent report to nameless R&A members suggest Trump has crossed the line too many times with his xenophobic rhetoric, not only directed at Muslims, but also Mexican and Latin immigrants, as well other groups.
“One word was thrown around: Enough,” said an unnamed member of the R&A’s championship committee.
On Friday, the PGA Tour said on Friday that it will reevaluate its relationship with Trump and his Doral Resort as host of the WGC-Cadillac Championship beyond 2017.
The European Tour, which co-sanctions the World Golf Championships events with the PGA Tour and others, also said it will soon announced plans concerning the future rotation of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open. Trump has claimed his Trump International Golf Links in Scotland will host the 2017 perennial precursor to the Open.
Trump’s golf interests did get some good news over the weekend. The National reports Trump’s name has been restored to signage leading into a Dubai property on which he is collaborating to build a Gil Hanse-designed course. Trump’s name and likeness were removed from Damac Properties’ Akoya by Damac development on Thursday, two days after a company official defended the company’s relationship with Trump. The decision may be motivated by contractual obligations, Damac refuses comments on any matters related to Trump.
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
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