DONALD TRUMP has moved a step closer to hosting The Open after landing a prestigious tournament at one of his golf courses.
The US president is an avid golf fan and owns several courses around the world, from Palm Beach to Scotland to Dubai.
4
4
4
4
He owns a total of 18 golf courses, and one has been picked to host the Scottish Championship between August 7-10.
The tournament, which has a $2.75million first prize, will take place at Trump International Golf Links Scotland in Aberdeenshire.
The course is a Martin Hawtree design that boasts views of the North Sea and 7,428 yards of green.
The course opened in 2012 and will host the second edition of the Scottish Championship – Fairmont St Andrews held the first in October 2020.
This year’s tournament will take place at the same time as the first leg of the PGA Tour’s playoffs, the FedEx St. Jude Championship, and the LIV Golf Chicago event.
Success at the course could increase the chances of The Open being played at one of Trump’s courses.
A Trump course has held the prestigious major previously – Turnberry in 2009 – but that was five years before the president bought it.
However The Open could return to Turnberry, with R&A CEO Mark Doban saying last month: “It’s a course we’d love to return to at some point.”
Reports last month also claimed Whitehouse officials were pushing for The Open to return to Turnberry.
Officials contacted the R&A, which organises the world’s oldest major, to ask what they need to do to host the 2028 Open at Turnberry.
Trump has also pushed for the competition to return to the Ayrshire-based course.
He said: “Everybody wants to see the Open championship here.”
The R&A previously stated it would not host the tournament at Turnberry in the wake of the January 6 attack by Trump supporters on the Capitol in 2021.
R&A chief executive, Martin Slumbers, said following the attack: “Until we are convinced the focus will be on the Championship, the players and the course itself, we do not believe that is achievable in the current circumstances.”
Of the decision to play the Scottish Open in Aberdeen DP World Tour chief executive Guy Kinnings, said: “Trump International Golf Links Scotland has already earned a reputation as one of the best modern links courses in the UK.
“It promises to be an excellent venue for the return of the Scottish Championship.”