USGA Exec Dir Mike Davis yesterday "met with selected journalists individually to address the USGA’s policy on sexual assault and the possibility" of President Trump attending this week's U.S. Women's Open at Trump National Bedminster, according to Beth Ann Nichols of GOLFWEEK.com. Davis received criticism earlier in the week for not meeting the media, and yesterday said, "We’ve had a long-standing policy on sexual harassment within the USGA. It applies not only to all of our staff, but all of our volunteers, it would apply to the vendors here." Davis on the eve of the tournament's first round noted he "addressed the Trump situation at a media day in May, hoping that by championship week the focus would be solely on golf." He said that he "regrets that players have had to field questions that don’t pertain to the championship or their golf" (GOLFWEEK.com, 7/12). Davis said that he has "attended every U.S. Women’s Open" since he became Exec Dir in '11, but he has "made a practice of intentionally staying away from the pre-championship news conference, leaving control to the championship committee" (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 7/12). GOLF.com's Alan Shipnuck noted Davis has been "thrust into a controversy" that "makes him nauseous." He "should have been at the presser, even though in the past he's skipped it." Shipnuck: "It was time to take one for the team" (GOLF.com, 7/12).
WILL TRUMP MAKE APPEARANCE? Davis said that he "still doesn’t know" if Trump will attend this week, but his organization is "prepared if he does." Davis: "We would certainly welcome him. Since our beginning in 1895, we’ve only had three sitting presidents come to an event, and we’ve never had a sitting president come to the U.S. Women’s Open." Asked whether Trump may play a role in Sunday's trophy ceremony, Davis said, "That’s not in the plans right now" (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 7/12). USA TODAY's Christine Brennan writes under the header, "President Trump, Stay Away From U.S. Women's Open This Weekend." If Trump attends, he will "overwhelm the event." Brennan: "He won’t be a story. He will be the story. He will steal the spotlight from the golfers who deserve it" (USA TODAY, 7/13).
STICK TO SPORTS: GOLFCHANNEL.com's Randall Mell noted defending champion Brittany Lang yesterday "struck the tone for a lot of players" when she was "asked one more question than she wanted to be asked about the president." Lang: "I would love to answer a golf question for you if you have one" (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 7/12). Golfer Cristie Kerr said there is "no benefit" to players for speaking out in the political arena. Kerr: “Whatever we say can be taken out of context. We are here to just play golf" (NEWSDAY, 7/13). Golf HOFer Juli Inkster, who is on Fox' broadcast team, said, “It’s a no-win situation. I know zero about politics. If you want to talk sports, I'm all in. But if I don't really know the subject, I don't think I should get in a debate with anybody" (Bergen RECORD, 7/13).
