... THE USGA, SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1894, HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED WITH POLITICS.

But Trump’s name on the entry way — both here and in Bedminster — and the fact that his mail is addressed to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW make these political events, whether anyone wanted it to be or not. Here is the intersection at which golf finds itself: the preferred sport of an extraordinarily controversial president, who happens to own a slew of golf properties worldwide, several of which were contracted to host tournaments before the boss even decided to run for office. This isn’t president George W. Bush playing a weekend 18 in Kennebunkport, Maine, or president Dwight D. Eisenhower becoming a member of Augusta National. This is a sitting president watching his business properties gain stature by hosting marquee sports events.

Yes, in some ways it’s important that the PGA of America agreed to bring the Senior PGA to Loudoun County, as well as the 2022 PGA Championship to Trump’s Bedminster property, in May 2014, more than a year before Trump announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination. The USGA awarded this year’s Women’s Open to Trump’s New Jersey course in 2012. Back then, the owner was a reality television star. Chronology matters.

But now he’s the president and the women’s rights group Ultraviolet has collected more than 100,000 signatures on a petition asking Davis to move the U.S. Women’s Open from Trump’s course. And protests are planned for Sunday morning at the Senior PGA Championship. And three senators have sent letters to Davis and LPGA commissioner Michael Whan asking them to pull the U.S. Women’s Open out of Bedminster. And the PGA of America cancelled the Grand Slam of Golf that was to be held at Trump’s Los Angeles club. So clearly, politics are involved, whether golf wants them to be or not.

The players here, though, seem unconcerned.

“He’s the president of the United States,” said Daly, arguably the field’s biggest draw. “I think people need