Donald Trump gets good news about his $53M purchase as UK PM demands talks
Keir Starmer
in his efforts to hold the Open Championship at one of his Scottish golf courses.
The British Prime Minister has reportedly instructed officials to hold talks with the R&A, golf's governing body, about the major tournament returning to Trump Turnberry in 2028. Speaking in 2023,
the President
said: 'Everybody wants to see the Open Championship here.'
Starmer's intervention is seen as an effort to soothe relations as talks over a UK-US trade deal continue. Trump has made no secret of his desire to bring the British major to Turnberry, which last hosted the Open in 2009.
Trump bought the estate for $53 million in 2014. The next three Open venues are confirmed, with the 2028 tournament still to be decided.
The Guardian
reports a source close to talks said that the UK government 'is doing everything it can to get close to Trump'. They added that the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport [DCMS] has been lobbying for Turnberry to host the Open.
On Tuesday, the Prime Minister's official spokesman did not deny that officials had spoken to the R&A about the venue for the 2028 tournament, but insisted it was not a decision for the UK government.
Keir Starmer has reportedly been lobbying for the 2028 Open Championship to be held at Trump Turnberry
(Image: Getty)
He said: 'I wouldn't get into specific conversations but it's for sporting bodies to make decisions on tournament venues, not the government. Obviously the government is in regular contact with sporting bodies on tournaments in the usual way but not beyond that.
'It's clearly right and proper and usual for government to engage with organisers of major sporting events as part of the business of government, but in terms of decisions around tournament hosting venues, that is for the relevant sporting bodies to take decisions on.'
There are doubts over whether Trump Turnberry is suitable to host the Open
(Image: Jeff)
Asked whether Mr Trump had raised using Turnberry for the Open in 2028 in conversation with the Prime Minister, the spokesperson said: 'I'm not going to go beyond the readouts that you've got on their conversations, but the point is that decisions on tournament venues are rightly a matter for the relevant sporting bodies.'
Attendances have grown since Turnberry last hosted the Open, leading to concerns that the surrounding infrastructure could no longer cope. Last week, R&A chief executive Mark Darbon described Turnberry as 'better now than it ever has been'.
But he added: 'There are some challenges around the road and rail network, some of the accommodation provision in the surrounding area, and so we're working on what a model could look like for the future.'
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