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One of professional golf’s most important tournaments was pulled from President Donald Trump’s course in Bedminster, New Jersey, days after his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol, officials said on Sunday.
Although the American Association of Professional Golfers did not mention the riot in its statement, the move came four days after crowds, driven by Trump’s continued misrepresentation of voter fraud, violated the Capitol in an unsuccessful effort to undo the victory of President-elect Joe Biden.
At least five people died, including a Capitol police officer.
The 2022 PGA Championship was scheduled to be played at Trump’s club in May of that year.
“The PGA of America Board of Directors voted tonight to exercise the right to terminate the agreement to play the 2022 PGA Championship at Trump Bedminster,” PGA of America President Jim Richerson said. in a statement released by the PGA.
In a video statement, Richerson said playing at Trump’s club would be bad for business and could even hurt the sport itself.
“It became clear that conducting the PGA Championship at Trump Bedminster would be detrimental to the PGA of America brand and jeopardize the ability of the PGA to deliver many programs and maintain the longevity of our mission,” he said. he declares.
“It was a decision made to ensure that the PGA of America and the PGA Professionals can continue to lead and develop our great game for decades to come,” he said.
The Trump organization said in a statement that the PGA had “no right to terminate the agreement.”
“We have had a great partnership with the PGA of America and are incredibly disappointed with their decision,” he said.
“This is a breach of a binding contract and they have no right to terminate the agreement. As an organization, we have invested several million dollars in the 2022 PGA Championship at Trump National Golf Bedminster Club, ”he said.
This isn’t the first time the pro golf hierarchy has had to fight their way out of a public relations sand trap set by Trump.
The 2016 WGC-Cadillac Championship was due to be played at the Trump National Doral near Miami before sponsors revolted against Trump’s comments as a presidential candidate that Mexican immigrants were “criminals, drug traffickers, rapists ”.
The tournament has been moved to Mexico City.
Even before his presidential run, Trump was not a favorite with golf officials in the UK, where he had long sought to bring back the British Open revolving at his Turnberry golf course in Scotland, where it was played in 2009 .
NBC News reported last year that Trump had asked his ambassador to the United Kingdom, Robert “Woody” Johnson, to verify whether British government officials could help play the Open at Turnberry.
Rex hoggard contributed.
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