‘I’m too controversial!’: Trump takes a swipe at organizers of the British Open golf tournament for not hosting the competition at his Scottish course
- Former President Trump released a statement on Saturday saying The Open Championship should have been played at his golf course in Scotland
- The 2021 Open Championship began on July 14 and is being played at Royal St. George’s Golf Club in Kent in southeast England
- Many businesses disassociated themselves from Trump and his organization after the Capitol riot on January 6 with companies dropping their partnerships
Former president Donald Trump has taken a swipe at the organizers of the British Open which is being hosted at the Royal St. George’s in Kent in the southeast of England instead of at Trump’s own golf course resort in Scotland.
‘I have spent some time watching The Open Championship (formerly known as The British Open), and it is terrific! But as almost all of the great players, sportscasters, and golf aficionados know, the greatest site and course of all for The Open is Turnberry, in Scotland,’ Trump said in an email on Saturday.
‘It is truly a magical place, the players want to be there, and at some point in time the players will be there,’ he added in the message sent from his official post-presidential email account.
‘It is a shame that the phenomenal Turnberry Golf links, the best in the World, sits empty during Open Championships, while far lesser courses are on display. Oh well, life proceeds forward! Someday The Open will be back at Turnberry,’ Trump continued.
ormer President Trump released a statement on Saturday saying The Open Championship should have been played at his golf course in Scotland. He is pictured at the course in 2015
The seaside course of Turnberry has hosted The Open – Europe’s only golf major, four times
‘It is truly a magical place, the players want to be there, and at some point in time the players will be there,’ Trump wrote in a message sent from his official post-presidential email account
Trump is believed to have bought the resort on the west coast of Scotland for $63 million.
Royal St. George’s, meanwhile, has somewhat bumpy terrain and some unusual sightlines which has drawn criticism from some competitors in this year’s 149th Open.
‘It’s not my favorite venue that we’ve played,’ Brooks Koepka said this week. ‘Whether it be a couple shots to nothing, a couple blind tee shots or shots in where you can’t really see much. I’m not too big of a fan of that.’
Trump came to his own reasoning as to why Turnberry was not selected as a venue for the golf tournament.
‘This course was not chosen for The Open because they consider a wonderful person, and many-time Club Champion, named Donald J. Trump, to be too controversial,’ he suggested.
United States’ Patrick Reed putts on the 6th green during the second round of the British Open Golf Championship at Royal St George’s golf course in Sandwich, England this weekend
‘Remember, though, controversy only makes things ‘hotter,” Trump went on.
Many businesses disassociated themselves from Trump after the Capitol riot on January 6th with social media companies removing his profiles and businesses dropping their partnerships with the Trump Organization.
Trump, an avid golfer whose mother was Scottish, bought Turnberry in 2014.
The seaside course has hosted The Open – Europe’s only golf major, four times.
Company filings in the UK show that after the initial purchase, Trump’s company spent another $100 million on course upgrades and other expenses.
Trump is pictured playing a round of golf at the Trump Turnberry during what was his first official visit to the United Kingdom as president in July 2018