Donald Trump owns the Turnberry golf resort in Ayrshire, Scotland, and has been lobbying for it to host The Open Championship.
In 2023, Trump expressed that “everybody wants to see the Open Championship here,” but the tournament’s organisers, the R&A, have rejected the idea. They cited security concerns, particularly protests related to Trump’s ownership, and as a result, Turnberry has been “blacklisted” from hosting the event.
Trump’s camp responded, emphasizing their dedication to preserving Turnberry as one of the world’s best golf courses. Trump also highlighted his investment of nearly $200 million to redevelop the resort.
In May 2023, he spoke about the advice from former R&A CEO Peter Dawson and praised the work of renowned golf architect Martin Grant Hawtree. Despite R&A’s stance, Trump remains confident in Turnberry’s quality, calling it the “No 1-rated in Europe.”