Turnberry could be out of the reckoning for the Open Championship, at least while Donald Trump remains owner of the Ayrshire resort, as the R&A and other golf bodies start to move away from the outspoken presidential hopeful.
The Ailsa Course, which has hosted four Opens, the last won by Stewart Cink in 2009, was reckoned to be a possible host course in 2020 or 2021, as Trump’s multi-million investment in the course and the famous hotel was due to be completed.
However, reports from R&A insiders suggest that Trump’s comments in his campaign for the Republican Party nomination to run for president of the United States, culminating in last week’s call for a “total and complete shutdown” of US borders, have convinced the R&A’s championship committee to rule out a return there.
So far the only official comment from the club came from chief executive Martin Slumbers at the weekend and did not directly reference Trump or Turnberry.
Slumbers, who succeeded Peter Dawson in September, said: “It is my belief, and that of the R&A, that golf should be open to all regardless of gender, race, nationality of religion.”
In his last interview before his retirement, Dawson indicated that the R&A would still deal with Trump, saying it would be “absurd to determine an Open venue on something said on the campaign trail in the USA.”
However, as Trump’s public comments have become more divisive, and partly as a result of the experience of the Women’s British Open at Turnberry back in July, it’s understood that leading members of the championship committee have privately decided they want no part of Turnberry while Trump owns the resort.
The R&A have repeatedly stated they wish to return to Turnberry at some point and one of their preferred architects, Martin Ebert, has been employed by Trump to make changes at the Ailsa Course, work having begun just two months ago. However no date had been confirmed for the championship to go back.
With Royal Troon hosting next year, Royal Birkdale in 2017, Carnoustie in 2018 and Royal Portrush confirmed in October for 2019, the next available date is 2020. With the 150th Open due in 2021, it’s expected that the usual five-year cycle when the Old Course at St Andrews hosts the championship will be interrupted to celebrate that landmark at the Home of Golf.
That meant, many believed 2020 was to be Turnberry’s year, but there is scope for the R&A to go to Royal St George’s at Sandwich or Royal Lytham and St Annes that year, and the club prefer not to stay away from their English host courses where crowds and revenue are higher than all Scottish venues barring St Andrews for more two years at a time.
The addition of Royal Portrush it’s understood that a deal with the Northern Ireland Executive allows for three visits to the Antrim coast course means the R&A has its minimum of nine venues even without Turnberry.
There were further indications at the weekend that golf’s major tours are turning away from Trump. The PGA Tour in America have indicated that they will consider taking the WGC Cadillac Championship away from the tycoon’s Doral Resort in Florida as a result of his recent comments, although they are committed to going there next March.
The European Tour has a stake in that annual event but it seems clear that plans to host the Scottish Open at Trump’s Menie Estate near Aberdeen have been quietly dropped.
“In 2016, the European Tour will play in 26 countries across five continents,” read a tour statement to the Daily Telegraph. “We are proud of this cultural diversity and we do not condone the comments made by Mr Trump.
“In terms of the Aberdeen Asset Mannagement Scottish Open, we are still considering future locations and will make an announcement on that in due course.”