The sport of golf has a complicated relationship with Donald Trump.
On the one hand the presumptive Republican candidate for November’s presidential election in the US has done an awful lot to support the game.
On the other hand, he is a giant, ridiculous-haired embarrassment who keeps saying terrible things about Mexicans and Muslims.
An incredibly wealthy, conservative demographic, PGA golfers do not need a cheerleader like Trump – one of the most divisive figures in the history of American politics.
In the UK, the Royal & Ancient are under pressure to remove the Trump-owned Turnberry from the Open roster, due to the litany of outrageous things he has said over the course of his controversial campaign to date.
However it is the PGA that have blinked first, taking the opening WGC event away from Trump’s Doral venue in Florida to a course that could only have been chosen to wind up the property magnate.
From 2017 the event formerly known as WGC-Cadillac Championship will be held in Mexico City.
The decision was taken, seemingly, after Trump called for a “total and complete” ban on Muslims entering the US. He also plans to build a wall between the US and Mexico if he is elected in November.
Trump’s reaction was predictable in its bluntness.
“I just heard the PGA Tour is taking their tournament out of Miami and moving it to Mexico,” he told Fox News. “They’re moving it to Mexico City which, by the way, I hope they have kidnapping insurance. They’re moving it to Mexico City and I’m saying: ‘What’s going on here?’ It is so sad when you look at what’s going on with our country.”
Thankfully Rory McIlroy was on hand to deliver a word perfect response to the news.
“It’s quite ironic we’re going to Mexico after being at Doral. We’ll just jump over the wall.”
Don’t worry Donald, the world number 3 doesn’t have a vote. He is one of those immigrants you don’t like.
