Trump chips in to show Tour chief his new course

DONALD Trump took in the opening ceremony for the Walker Cup at Royal Aberdeen after giving George O’Grady, the European Tour’s chief executive, a personal guided tour of the site a few miles to the north where the American billionaire is building his own championship course.

Trump has hinted he would be keen for the course at Menie Estate to host a future Ryder Cup and, with O’Grady having also travelled to the north-east to take in the amateur game’s showpiece event, it was a perfect opportunity for the pair to meet up.

It’s probably a case of them courting each other because O’Grady, in revealing earlier this year that someone from the Trump organisation had been in touch with the European Tour to make them aware of the exciting new development taking shape on the Aberdeenshire coastline, said he’d be keen to listen to any proposals regarding a possible event being held there one day.

Jim Holtgrieve, the US captain, revealed he was expecting Trump to have a word with his players before the event got underway this morning. “I’ve heard that he may come by and talk to us this evening and I think the guys would probably like to meet him. I’m sure Mr Trump would give us words of encouragement, particularly on what this weekend (the tenth anniversary of 9/11) is all about, not only here, but also in New York. It would be pretty special.”

Trump’s controversial course, which is due to open next year, has already been given a seal of approval by Sandy Jones, the chief executive of the PGA, and former Open champion Paul Lawrie after they paid visits to the site.

“When this course is completed, there is no doubt in my mind it will be one of the great golf courses in the world,” said Jones. “There are not many sites in the world that are so close to the sea with such magnificent dunes and the traditional links land around it.”