R&A has no plans for Turnberry in 'foreseeable future'

The R&A says it does not plan to stage The Open or any of its other events at Donald Trump-owned Turnberry in the “foreseeable future”.

The Trump Turnberry Resort in Ayrshire, where The Open was last held in 2009. Picture: Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images.

The St Andrews-based organisation has also hinted that it will not be considering the Ayrshire venue for tournaments as long as there was a danger of them becoming a sideshow due to the outgoing US president.

In a statement, Martin Slumbers, the R&A’s chief executive, said: “We had no plans to stage any of our championships at Turnberry and will not do so in the foreseeable future.

“We will not return until we are convinced that the focus will be on the championship, the players and the course itself and we do not believe that is achievable in the current circumstances.”

The R&A’s stance on Turnberry came after the PGA of America pulled the plug on staging the 2022 PGA Championship at Trump’s course at Bedminster in New Jersey,

That decision was made due to concerns about that plan being “detrimental to the PGA of American brand” on the back of Trump having incited last week’s storming of the US Capitol in Washington by his supporters.

“It would put at risk the PGA's ability to deliver our many programmes and sustain the longevity of our mission,” said PGA of America president Jim Richerson.

Turnberry last hosted The Open in 2009, when Stewart Cink beat Tom Watson in a play-off.

The resort was bought by Trump in 2014 before being opened as Trump Turnberry just over two years later.

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