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USA Today
2 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
No Open in sight, but with DP World Tour event, Donald Trump's foothold in Scotland grows
This week, the DP World Tour has returned to Scottish soil for the Nexo Championship, which is being held at —whisper it — Trump International Golf Links near Aberdeen. A late addition to the circuit's schedule, the event was originally called the Scottish Championship before a title sponsor hopped on board. In case you're wondering, Nexo is a premier digital assets wealth platform with its high-heeled yins proudly stating that, 'golf is a natural fit for our brand: elevated, global, and principled.' Is that not what Trump says about himself? Anyway, the Nexo Championship is the second significant event to be staged on Trump's golfing turf in the space of a few days, following the Staysure PGA Seniors' Championship, which concluded on Sunday. The other week, a petition urging the R&A not to take The Open back to Trump's Turnberry course was launched and earned upwards of 50,000 signatures. I've not found a petition against the staging of the Nexo Championship — the Scottish Government has chipped in with $240,000 of funding for it — or the golden oldies event on a Trump property yet. Amid all the fist-shaking, harrumphing, placard-waving and handwringing that greeted the U.S. President's visit to these shores last week, the actual golf events themselves clatter and batter on unhindered. Slowly but surely, Trump continues to establish a foothold in the business of championships on this side of the pond. My learned colleague, Ewan Murray of The Guardian, suggested in his own column recently that it would be no surprise to see a Scottish Open at Turnberry within the next few years. As Trump cut the ribbon on his second course at Balmedie last week, Guy Kinnings, the chief executive of the European Tour Group, was part of the ceremonial party. Presumably, any discussions about tournament golf at Trump-owned venues moved beyond the staging of the Nexo Championship? We all, meanwhile, know the championship Trump desperately craves. Despite all the 'dialogue' and 'feasibility work' about an Open at his treasured Turnberry, however, we all also know that there's probably more chance of the game's most celebrated major being held at Littlehill municipal while Trump is still around. In his homeland of the USA, Trump had a major, the PGA Championship, booked in at his Bedminster course in 2022 until the PGA of America stripped him of the honor after his incitement of the Capitol insurrection. PGA Championships are assigned to venues until 2032, while U.S. Opens are already locked in at various courses until 2043. The R&A, meanwhile, has announced Open venues only through 2027. Even if the prospect seems as remote as Point Nemo, The Open still remains Trump's best crack at a major championship. He may not be around to see it, mind you. It's hard to think that 10 years have hurtled by since we all trotted off down to Turnberry for the Women's Open of 2015 and the bold Donald hijacked affairs by birling about over the Ailsa course in his helicopter before making a grand entrance. That first morning of play was probably one of the most sigh-inducing days of my working life. Well, apart from the time there was no press lunch at an Amateur Championship one year. The bizarre circus unfolded not long after Trump had made his outlandish comments about Mexicans as his Presidential campaign became more volatile and divisive. Poor Lizette Salas, the daughter of Mexican immigrants who had spoken with quiet dignity on the eve of the championship about Trump's inflammatory rant, was encircled by cameras and microphones upon completing her opening round. In an elbowing, barging scrum of news reporters, she faced barking, salivating questions like, 'is he a racist?' instead of the more genteel, 'what club did you hit into the seventh?' It was all spectacularly unedifying on the first day of a women's major championship. About a year earlier, Peter Dawson, the then chief executive of the R&A, suggested that, 'it would be ludicrous if something said on the Presidential campaign trail dictated where an Open is held.' That observation didn't age particularly well, did it? Amid the general pandemonium that engulfed the Women's showpiece that day, a teenage Lydia Ko adopted an air of shrugging nonchalance to the whole palaver. 'I was on the 16th and saw the helicopter and I was like, 'man, that's a really nice helicopter, I'd love one,' she said at the time. Here in 2025, Trump's own heart's desire remains an Open Championship. For the time being, though, a Nexo Championship will do him. It's a telling foot on the DP World Tour ladder. He may climb a few rungs yet.
The Herald Scotland
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Donald Trump strengthens foothold on tournament golf
Good luck with that. During the weekly trial of chiselling out these back page bletherations, for instance, your correspondent tends to approach the task in hand with about as much relish as a Cocker Spaniel that's being reluctantly ushered into the vet's clinic for a neutering procedure. It's a dog's life, eh? 'It's more like a dog's bloomin' breakfast,' sneered the sports editor as he worked his way through these opening few paragraphs with his head buried in his hands as usual. For the golf writers, the work goes on. This week, the DP World Tour returns to Scottish soil for the Nexo Championship, which is being held at, whisper it, Trump International Golf Links near Aberdeen. A late addition to the circuit's schedule, the event was originally called the Scottish Championship before a title sponsor hopped on board. In case you're wondering, Nexo is a premier digital assets wealth platform with its high heid yins proudly stating that, 'golf is a natural fit for our brand: elevated, global, and principled.' Is that not what Trump says about himself? Anyway, the Nexo Championship is the second significant event to be staged on Trump's golfing turf in the space of a few days following the Staysure PGA Seniors' Championship, which concluded on Sunday. The other week, a petition urging the R&A not to take The Open back to Trump's Turnberry course was launched and earned upwards of 50,000 signatures. I've not found a petition against the staging of the Nexo Championship – the Scottish Government has chipped in with £180,000 of funding for it - or the golden oldies event on a Trump property yet. Amid all the fist-shaking, harrumphing, placard-waving and handwringing that greeted the US President's visit to these shores last week, the actual golf events themselves clatter and batter on unhindered. Slowly but surely, Trump continues to establish a foothold in the business of championships on this side of the pond. My learned colleague, Ewan Murray of The Guardian, suggested in his own column recently that it would be no surprise to see a Scottish Open at Turnberry within the next few years. As Trump cut the ribbon on his second course at Balmedie last week, Guy Kinnings, the chief executive of the European Tour Group, was part of the ceremonial party. Presumably, any discussions about tournament golf at Trump-owned venues moved beyond the staging of the Nexo Championship? We all, meanwhile, know the championship Trump desperately craves. Despite all the 'dialogue' and 'feasibility work' about an Open at his treasured Turnberry, however, we all also know that there's probably more chance of the game's most celebrated major being held at Littlehill municipal while Trump is still around. In his homeland of the USA, Trump had a major, the PGA Championship, booked in at his Bedminster course in 2022 until the PGA of America stripped him of the honour after his incitement of the Capitol insurrection. PGA Championships are assigned to venues until 2032 while US Opens are already locked in at various courses until 2043. The R&A, meanwhile, has announced Open venues only through 2027. Even if the prospect seems as remote as Point Nemo, The Open still remains Trump's best crack at a major championship. He may not be around to see it, mind you. It's hard to think that 10 years have hurtled by since we all trotted off down to Turnberry for the Women's Open of 2015 and the bold Donald hijacked affairs by birling about over the Ailsa course in his helicopter before making a grand entrance. That first morning of play was probably one of the most sigh-inducing days of my working life. Well, apart from the time there was no press lunch at an Amateur Championship one year. The bizarre circus unfolded not long after Trump had made his outlandish comments about Mexicans as his Presidential campaign became more volatile and divisive. Poor Lizette Salas, the daughter of Mexican immigrants who had spoken with quiet dignity on the eve of the championship about Trump's inflammatory rant, was encircled by cameras and microphones upon completing her opening round. In an elbowing, barging scrum of news reporters, she faced barking, salivating questions like, 'is he a racist?' instead of the more genteel, 'what club did you hit into the seventh?' It was all spectacularly unedifying on the first day of a women's major championship. About a year earlier, Peter Dawson, the then chief executive of the R&A, suggested that, 'it would be ludicrous if something said on the Presidential campaign trail dictated where an Open is held.' That observation didn't age particularly well, did it? Amid the general pandemonium that engulfed the Women's showpiece that day, a teenage Lydia Ko adopted an air of shrugging nonchalance to the whole palaver. 'I was on the 16th and saw the helicopter and I was like, 'man, that's a really nice helicopter, I'd love one,' she said at the time. Here in 2025, Trump's own heart's desire remains an Open Championship. For the time being, though, a Nexo Championship will do him. It's a telling foot on the DP World Tour ladder. He may climb a few rungs yet.
The Sun
18-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Shane Lowry in rules breach controversy at The Open as furious star yells ‘f*** this place' in frustration
SHANE LOWRY was embroiled in a major rules breach controversy during his second round at The Open. And it came just after he furiously shouted "f*** this place" in a blazing rant on Friday evening. 4 4 4 Lowry, 38, had gone bogey-free for the first ten holes to get to -2. But his wayward tee shot on 11 spooned left, causing him to yell out the expletive in anger. Incredibly, it is the third different Major out of four this year where Lowry has used the X-rated phrase. And commentator Ewan Murray said on Sky Sports Golf: "Sorry about the language slipping through there." Irishman Lowry - champion at Portrush in 2019 - bogeyed the hole. Then on the very next hole, he found the rough when his tee shot drifted left on the par-5 12th hole. Lowry headed over to his ball and tried to figure out how he could recover. But as he swung his club head through the long grass, TV cameras appeared to show the ball move ever so slightly. On the replay, it just seems to nudge backwards fractionally. Lowry nor his caddie noticed the tiny motion at the time and therefore the world No18 did not call it on himself. Tense moment as furious Jon Rahm confronts golf fan at The Open But the TV commentators and golf fans watching the action at home highlighted the incident. One social media user said: "Did Shane Lowry's ball move juuuuust a tad on that practice swing??" Another wrote: "If they don't stroke Lowry we're going to have major major problems." A third asked: "Did anyone else see this? Saw it live. Looked like Lowry's practice swing moved the ball. What do you all see?" And a fourth added: "The ball clearly moved. This whole 'did he see it' or not issue should be irrelevant. He clearly caused the ball to move when he took the practice swing." When he made his actual shot, Lowry played into a bunker but still made par. It is understood the R&A noted the incident and would review the video then speak to Lowry after his round - a one-under-par 70 to go to -2 - to determine any punishment. But if found guilty, he could be slapped with a brutal two-stroke penalty. Golf rules state: "If you take a practice swing and cause your ball to move, you still have not made a stroke, but you will get a one-stroke penalty for moving your ball in play. "The ball must be replaced on its original spot. If the player instead plays the ball from where it was moved to after their practice swing, it becomes a two-stroke penalty." And at one stage that threatened to see him suffer the ultimate punishment of missing the cut. Lowry's X-rated outburst came 24 hours after Tommy Fleetwood's own swearing blast. Fleetwood was left fuming when his ball landed in a bunker that had not been raked. 4
The Courier
17-05-2025
- Sport
- The Courier
Best pictures as Tayside farmers take to the football field for charity
Angus farmers were feeling the heat in a Friday night Past v Present charity fixture on the football field. As they battled it out at Strathmore Park in Forfar, the players were in as much need of a good soaking as their recently planted fields of tatties. But the two squads dug in to raise funds for Brain Tumour Research. The perfect weather brought out a good crowd for the highly-anticipated match, organised by Angus Tayside Young Farmers. District chairman Glen Barclay said: 'Our district has always had a strong tradition of talented footballers. 'It's essential that we continue to nurture the connections between current members and those who have come before us. 'This match provided the perfect opportunity to do just that, while supporting Brain Tumour Research, a cause that is particularly meaningful to many of our members.' The youngsters secured a 4-0 win in what was a hotly contested encounter, to take home the inaugural Cochrane Family Quaich. Ewan Murray of the winning side was the man of the match. Forfar JAC organises a hugely popular Christmas Eve tractor run annually.
The Guardian
04-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Champions Liverpool travel to Chelsea, West Ham v Spurs and WSL Manchester derby
Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Hello and welcome to live coverage of a Sunday packed with Big Timetm football, follow along for the latest news and previews ahead of today's action. We get underway with the live action at midday, as Emillia Hawkins brings you a WSL clockwatch for the Manchster derby, which has serious implications for European qualification, with a side serving of Merseyside derby, which is more about civic pride, and runs through until the conclusion of Premier League champions Liverpool's trip to Chelsea. On the day of the latest Old Firm meeting in the Scottish Premiership, we also have a Scottish football Q&A with Ewan Murray, a doyen of all things north of the border, at 10.30am. So please come armed with questions for that via or dropping a comment below the line. Before we get started, these are some of the key matches we'll be following today. WSL Liverpool v Everton (midday) Manchester United v Manchester City (midday) Crystal Palace v Leicester City (2pm) Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea (2.15) West Ham v Aston Villa (3pm) Premier League Brentford v Manchester United (2pm) Brighton v Newcastle (2pm) West Ham v Tottenham (2pm) Chelsea v Liverpool (4.30pm) Scottish Premiership Rangers v Celtic (midday) La Liga Real Madrid v Celta Vigo (1pm) Serie A Empoli v Lazio (11.30) Monza v Atalanta (2pm) Roma v Fiorentina (5pm) Bologna v Juventus (7.45pm) You can peruse a fuller fixture list here. Share
