R&A suggests Turnberry’s Open place is safe

• Open hosts respond to Donald Trump controversy
• ‘We don’t have any decisions to make on Turnberry for some time’
• Ayrshire resort has hosted championship on four occasions

The R&A has, for the first time, directly addressed the controversy surrounding recent remarks made by Donald Trump, hinting that the American’s well-publicised comments about Mexicans would NOT result in Turnberry being struck from the Open rota.

There has been some speculation that the Ayrshire resort, purchased by Trump in April 2014, could be dropped as a host venue for the championship after what the US tycoon and presidential candidate said about Mexican immigrants last month.

“When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best,” said Trump, below. “They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”

He later added: “I’ve had tremendous support from the golf world, because they all know I’m right.”

In a joint statement, however, the PGA Tour, USGA, PGA of America and LPGA distanced themselves from those remarks, with some events scheduled to be played at Trump-owned properties, including the 2015 Grand Slam of Golf, moved elsewhere.

Until today, the R&A had largely kept its powder dry on the prospect of Turnberry being scrubbed from the rota in the fall-out from the controversy. However, speaking on the eve of this week’s Open Championship at St Andrews, Peter Dawson, the outgoing chief executive of the R&A, appeared to allay those concerns.

Asked if his organisation has ‘a problem’ or is ‘compromised’ by Trump’s comments, Dawson said: “We don’t have any decisions to make about Turnberry for quite some time and I think we’ll just let a bit of time pass and future championship committees will deal with them at the time.”

Tellingly, Peter Unsworth, the chairman of the championship committee had earlier answered a question on the subject of Royal Porthcawl in Wales being added to the rota, by saying: “We’re very happy with the number of courses on the rota at the moment.”

Trump Turnberry, as it is now known, has staged the Open on four occasions, most recently in 2009 when Stewart Cink defeated five-time champion Tom Watson in a play-off to win his first major title.

The venues for the next three Opens after this year have already been confirmed. It is going back to Royal Troon next year for the first time since 2004, with Royal Birkdale playing host in 2017 and Carnoustie doing the honours in 2018.

It is widely expected, although unconfirmed, that Royal Portrush will make its eagerly anticipated return to the rota in 2019. With St Andrews likely to stage the 150th Open in 2021, the door would appear to be ajar for a return to Turnberry in 2020.

Should the R&A take the Open back to Trump Turnberry?

Do you think the R&A should continue to use Trump Turnberry as a host venue for the Open Championship? Leave your thoughts in our ‘Comments’ section below.

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Michael McEwan is bunkered's Head of Content and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

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