Turnberry won't be hosting British Open soon — but it's not because Trump
Mark Darbon, the new chief executive of the R&A, said Wednesday that the reason Turnberry is on the outside looking in is not political, but more about transportation issues accessing the golf course located on the west coast of Scotland.
Advertisement
Turnberry has hosted the Open Championship four times, the first being 1977, the famous 'Duel in the Sun'' when Tom Watson defeated Jack Nicklaus, and the last being in 2009, when Watson lost in a playoff to Stewart Cink.
Darbon, who took over at the R&A this year from Martin Slumbers, said Turnberry had not been taken off the list of potential Open sites, but that transportation and other issues need to be addressed before it can become an option again.
'I think we've been extremely clear on our position in respect of Turnberry,'' Darbon said. 'We love the golf course, but we've got some big logistical challenges there. You see the scale of their setup here, and we've got some work to do on the road, rail and accommodation infrastructure around Turnberry.'
Advertisement
Darbon revealed that the R&A met with Eric Trump and other leaders of Trump Golf a few months ago.
'I think they understand clearly where we're coming from,'' Darbon said. 'We talked through some of the challenges that we have, so we've got a good dialogue with them.
Turnberry falling out of the rotation after 2009 was perceived by many to be political after Trump bought the course in 2014.
Henrik Stenson tees off on the 10th hole with the Turnberry Lighthouse in the background, during a practice round for the British Open Golf Championship at Turnberry Golf Course, on July 11, 2009.
AP
Advertisement
Slumbers previously said the R&A would not be going to Turnberry until it was comfortable the focus would be on the golf and not the owner.
Trump, a golf fanatic who owns numerous golf courses, has always wanted to host a major championship yet never has.
There has been recent speculation that Trump might ask the British government to intercede in getting the Open back to Turnberry.
'We have an ongoing dialogue with the U.K. government, given that we're a major event that creates significant value into the U.K. economy,' Darbon said. 'We've spoken to them specifically about Turnberry, and I think they've made it clear that the decision around where we take our championship rests with us,' Darbon said.
Advertisement
Donald Trump is welcomed as he arrives at his Turnberry golf course, in Turnberry, Scotland on June 24, 2016.
Reuters
'I would find it difficult to predict whether there will be any discussion on the Open if the president is making a visit here.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump's tariffs on Canada might be here to stay, U.S. Secretary of Commerce says
With less than two weeks to go for Canada to make a trade deal with the U.S., Prime Minister Mark Carney and the nation's premiers are set to tackle the issue during a three-day meeting in Ontario. As Mackenzie Gray reports, Trump's commerce secretary is making it clear the U.S. is firmly committed to imposing substantial levies if American demands are not met.
New York Post
24 minutes ago
- New York Post
Rory McIlroy won this British Open almost as much as Scottie Scheffler did
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Rory McIlroy didn't leave Portrush with the Claret Jug under his arm Sunday night, but he was a winner nonetheless at the 153rd British Open. There are times by the end of some sporting events when there's more than one winner, even though there's only one trophy awarded. Scottie Scheffler put the tournament to sleep with his utter dominance, winning his fourth career major championship and leaving no doubt for at least the final 36 holes. We've seen this before. You may remember Tiger Woods, in his height of dominance, coldly closing events down long before official closing time arrived.
New York Post
24 minutes ago
- New York Post
NY awarded more than $600M to ‘sanctuary' groups helping defy Trump, federal immigration law
Legal and migrant advocacy groups fighting to block New York from helping the Trump administration enforce US immigration laws have been awarded more than $600 million in taxpayer dollars from the city and state governments, a Post review of contracts revealed. The Bronx Defenders alone has received more than $500 million in city contracts since fiscal year 2018 to provide a host of legal services to poor criminal and civil defendants, including migrants, according to a review of contracts from 2009 to the present. 7 The Bronx Defenders alone has received more than $500 million in city contracts. The Bronx Defenders/ Facebook And the legal aid group raked in another $32 million from the state over the years, records kept by the state comptroller's office show. Other groups were also funneled big bucks as they worked to undermine federal immigration policy, including Make the Road NY — which received $56 million to provide legal, health and other services mostly to immigrants, state and city contract records. The group helped organize a rally at the state Capitol last month urging passage of a sanctuary bill as rally goers chanted, 'No hate, no fear. Immigrants are welcome here.' 7 The legal aid group raked in another $32 million from the state over the years. X / @thenyic The New York Immigration Coalition received $46 million. 'New York City should not be in the business of carrying out Donald Trump's mass disappearance agenda, which is in fact illegal under our local laws,' said Murad Awadeh, executive director of the NYICC, on his X handle @HeyItsMurad. Awadeh also reposted an interview he did with New York Public News Network on May 30. 'Sanctuary policies are public safety measures,' he said. 'They encourage people to participate within our society so that they're able and comfortable enough to report things that are happening and without them, a lot of people won't do that, because they are fearful, and rightfully fearful, especially in the world that we're living in today, that they may end up entrapped in this ICE enforcement that's happening.' 7 Portrait of Murad Awawdeh, CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition. X / @HeyItsMurad Additionally, New Yorker Lawyers for the Public Interest received $19 million, including about $5 million from 2022 to present, city and state records show. The Bronx Defenders have been part of a wider push for a statewide sanctuary bill — the New York for All Act — that would bar state and local law enforcement from cooperating with US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents. That would include assisting in providing information, turning over or deporting illegal immigrants. Another bill with a push from activists called the Dignity not Detention Act would ban local jails from renting space to ICE to increase their detention capacity for suspected illegal migrants. 7 The New York Immigration Coalition received $46 million. Robert Mecea 'State leaders are not powerless against the federal administration's mass deportation agenda,' the Bronx Defenders said in a June 11 statement on X. 'We have a couple ideas: pass New York For All and Dignity Not Detention now, before it's too late.' The state Senate adjourned for the summer without passing either of the bills. Passage could become a political liability for Democrats who control the state government and US House of Representatives members who are running for office next year, including Gov. Kathy Hochul. 7 New Yorker Lawyers for the Public Interest received $19 million, including about $5 million from 2022 to present. X / @MaketheRoadNY Meanwhile, New York City is slated to spend $75 million on immigration legal services in its new budget, under a spending agreement approved by Mayor Eric Adams and the City Council. That spending plan includes $41.9 million in free legal assistance for migrants facing deportation But politicians who back President Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration fumed that groups helping break federal immigration law are receiving massive taxpayer funding. 'Non-governmental organizations that help shield criminals from deportation should not receive a single penny,' said Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn). 7 New York City is slated to spend $75 million on immigration legal services in its new budget. Robert Mecea 'While I don't have much faith in Governor [Kathy] Hochul and New York Democrats to stop funding left wing groups who work against law enforcement and the interests of citizens, we're taking decisive action on the federal level to end the Biden-Schumer gravy train of years past and put that money towards border security and enforcement to get foreign gangs and criminals out.' Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella said, 'Hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent to undermine public safety and our immigration laws. They are fighting to protect those who are dangerous criminals. 'It's a poke in the eye to hard working taxpayers. Is the money well spent?. The answer is no.' 7 Politicians who back Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration fumed that groups helping break federal immigration law are receiving massive taxpayer funding. X / @MaketheRoadNY State Conservative Party chairman Gerard Kassar: 'There is no excuse for New York authorities not to cooperate with federal authorities. New Yorkers should not be spending hundreds of millions of dollars on groups fighting to keep illegal aliens in the United States.' The staggering tally comes after an off-duty US Customs and Border Protection agent was shot in the face in New York City during a robbery — with the shooter allegedly an illegal migrant. President Trump also ripped Democrats for flooding 'our Nation with Criminal Invaders.'
