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National Post

New R and A top boss dances around Donald Trump and LIV Golf

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — There were no kid gloves for new R&A chief Mark Darbon at his first Open Championship press conference as issues surrounding both Donald Trump and LIV Golf were brought to the fore on Wednesday at Royal Portrush. Article content The U.S. president has long been influential in golf circles, but it's his ownership of Turnberry Golf Club (now Trump Turnberry) that has been a lightning rod for controversy at Open Championships in recent times. Article content Article content Article content The Scottish golf course is undoubtedly one of the world's finest. It has hosted the Open four times, but the game's oldest championship hasn't been played at the famed course on the Ayrshire Coast since Stewart Cink defeated Tom Watson in 2009. Article content Many have linked the absence of the Open to Trump's controversial rise to political power in the United States. Article content That assumption was deftly denied by Darbon, who despite a background in the rough-and-tumble sport of rugby proved on Wednesday to be very polished in his first stint atop the global world of golf. Article content Article content '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.' Article content Darbon said the course has not been taken out of the Open rotation, despite appearances to the contrary. Article content Article content 'We've explicitly not taken it out of our pool of venues but we'd need to address those logistical challenges should we return,' he said. Article content Article content Darbon was more diplomatic than his predecessor Martin Slumbers when asked if Trump's ownership was a roadblock in returning to Turnberry. Article content 'It's a somewhat hypothetical question in that unless we address the logistical challenges, it's difficult for us to go back.' Darbon said. 'I met a couple of months ago with Eric Trump and some of the leadership from the Trump golf organization and from Turnberry. Article content 'We had a really good discussion. I think they understand clearly where we're coming from. We talked through some of the challenges that we have so we've got a good dialogue with them.' Article content He said the R&A has had good conversations with Turnberry ownership and that his organization will work with the club and government to figure out how best to address the logistical hurdles. Article content So, just a negotiation with Trump and with government to see about funding and facilitating an upgrade to infrastructure for a golf tournament. That should go smoothly.