PGA Terminates Agreement To Hold U.S. Open At Trump Bedminster, President ‘Gutted’
The PGA is distancing itself from President Donald Trump after his supporters stormed the Capitol in an insurrection attempt on January 6.
The first move came Sunday night when the PGA president Jim Richerson released a Twitter statement saying, “The PGA of America Board of Directors voted tonight to exercise the right to terminate the agreement to play the 2022 PGA Championship at Trump Bedminster.”
“The PGA of America Board of Directors voted tonight to exercise the right to terminate the agreement to play the 2022 PGA Championship at Trump Bedminster.” — Jim Richerson, PGA of America President
— PGA of America (@PGA) January 11, 2021
Martin Slumbers, the CEO of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club that operates the British Open, said in a released statement Monday morning, “We had no plans to stage any of our championships at [Trump] Turnberry and will not do so in the foreseeable future.”
Please see a statement from The R&A regarding Turnberry.
Read more 👉 https://t.co/DtYhpg3bGd pic.twitter.com/YhonCHYn71
— The R&A (@RandA) January 11, 2021
These moves are an effort for major golf organizations and tournaments to distance themselves from Trump. Trump has spent most of his free time during his presidency golfing and has become closely identified with the sport.
“It’s become clear that conducting the PGA Championship at Trump Bedminster would be detrimental to the PGA of America brand and would put at risk the PGA’s ability to deliver on many programs and sustain the longevity of our mission,” Richerson said. “It was a decision made to ensure that PGA of America and PGA professionals can continue to lead and grow our great game for decades to come.”
In response to the announcements, the Trump organization has claimed that the PGA had no reason to terminate their agreement. The organization said, “This is a breach of a binding contract and they have no right to terminate the agreement.”
White House reporter Maggie Haberman says that Trump is “gutted” about the PGA’s decision.
A lot has happened in the last week, including the president losing his Twitter feed, impeachment coming to the fore and the PGA withdrawing from Trump National. He's "gutted" by the PGA move, a person close to the White House says.
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) January 11, 2021

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