Trump golf courses blacklisted after storming of the US Capitol
The R&A and the PGA of America have eschewed Donald Trump-owned courses in the wake of January’s US Capitol riots, which led to the President being impeached for the second time.
Shortly after the shocking events, the PGA of America announced its 2022 USPGA Championship would not take place at Trump National Golf Club. “It has become clear that conducting the USPGA Championship at Trump Bedminster would be detrimental to the
PGA of America brand,” said Jim Richerson, the organisation’s president.
A day later, The R&A effectively removed Trump Turnberry from the Open rota. “We had no plans to stage any of our championships at Turnberry and will not do so in the foreseeable future,” said R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers. “We will not return until we are convinced that the focus will be on the championship, the players and the course itself. We do not believe that is achievable in the current circumstances.”
Turnberry hasn’t staged an Open since 2009 and wasn’t on the schedule to host another. The next venues are Royal St George’s, St Andrews, Royal Liverpool and Royal Troon.
It remains to be seen whether The R&A will move to include another course in its rotation or stick with the current nine. If it’s the latter, the existing four Scottish courses – Muirfield, Carnoustie, Royal Troon and St Andrews – should benefit as The R&A prefers not to stage back-to-back Opens in the same country.