The R&A has decided that Donald Trump's reputation is "now so toxic that the newly renamed Trump Turnberry can no longer host" the British Open, according to James Cusick of the London INDEPENDENT. R&A CEO Martin Slumbers previously "had been expected to endorse Turnberry" as a venue for the '20 Open. However, Trump's series of controversial remarks while on the presidential campaign trail have "given him a near-pariah status in the global game, raising the risk of a boycott by sponsors and international players." Trump in June "called Mexican immigrants 'rapists' and called for a wall to be built along the United States-Mexico border." Sources said that the comment "raised eyebrows about what might come next." Cusick noted Trump's recent call for a "'total and complete shutdown' of U.S. borders to all Muslims" appears to have been "the final straw for the R&A." Although the R&A is "stuffed full of establishment figures, Turnberry with Trump is now seen as a risk they will not take" (London INDEPENDENT, 12/14).
DORAL IN JEOPARDY? GOLF.com's Pete Madden noted the PGA Tour has indicated that it will "consider other sites" for the WGC-Cadillac Championships after the conclusion of the '16 event at Trump National Doral. The Tour "did not explicitly say" whether it is weighing moving the event because of Trump's recent remarks about Muslims. However, the Tour wrote in a statement, "We continue to stand by our earlier statement, and the statement of other golf organizations, that Mr. Trump's comments are inconsistent with our strong commitment to an inclusive and welcoming environment in the game of golf." Madden noted the idea of moving the tournament comes as a petition calling on the Tour to cancel or move this year's event at Doral "has garnered almost 35,000 signatures on Care2" (GOLF.com, 12/11). Golf Channel's Geoff Shackelford notes the Tour's statement makes it clear officials are "not quite as enamored with Donald Trump as they had been, and that's a big change for them." He said the Tour "had kind of laughed off some of the presidential campaign politics this summer" ("Morning Drive," Golf Channel, 12/14). In Miami, Greg Cote wrote the PGA Tour is "in a tough spot, put there by Trump himself, who has gone from flashy tournament host to outspoken, polarizing presidential candidate." Chances are good the Doral event in March "will be as much a political circus as it is a golf tournament this year, with players asked about Trump's politics and perhaps protests" (MIAMIHERALD.com, 12/12).
A TOUGH LIE: GOLF DIGEST's Joel Beall wrote the PGA Tour, USGA and PGA of America are "now in a precarious spot" regarding their relationship with Trump. If the R&A "disassociates itself from Trump on the grounds that he's a detriment to the sport, what would a U.S. non-response say to the rest of the game?" Beall: "That they're inadvertently advocating his beliefs?" (GOLFDIGEST.com, 12/10). The weekly GOLF.com roundtable talked about whether the sport should "sever all ties to Trump." SI Golf Group Digital Development Editor Jeff Ritter wrote, "Trump has invested a lot of his own cash to help grow the game, but his comments along the campaign trail have been divisive and insulting, and the complete antithesis of what golf is all about." He added of the R&A's decision, "I expect the PGA and USGA to eventually follow suit, and I don't blame them at all." Golf Magazine Senior Editor Joe Passov wrote Trump "has to know that preaching exclusionary policies is going to have negative repercussions with the sport's governing bodies who (now) aim to include everybody." But the sport should not "overreact by severing all ties," as Trump "hasn't committed any crimes." Golf Magazine Senior Writer Cameron Morfit wrote the sport "already has a reputation for being exclusive and stuck in the past, so any further association with Trump will only give more ammo to the haters" (GOLF.com, 12/13).
EGO CHECK: The NATIONAL POST's Scott Stinson writes the R&A's action and possible action by the PGA Tour could both hit Trump "where it hurts -- in his ego." Whatever happens in his bid for the White House, Trump will "eventually return to being a private citizen." He "clearly revels in having the golf world turn up at his door" (NATIONAL POST, 12/14).
