Donald Trump supporters say hes going to make the country better, but every day a new group of Americans are leading a charge to disassociate themselves with a President who they see as incompetent to lead, divisive and anti-women.
The relationship between golf’s governing bodies and Donald Trump is vast and deep. No one turns down money and celebrity influence.
However, once Trump became President, the sport has had to re-evaluate its ties with the real-estate tycoon. The way he handles his social business has failed miserably, and now that the two are intertwined, sponsors have started heading for the hills.
The PGA Tour, unable to find a sponsor for the WGC event played at Trump Doral, moved the tournament to Mexico, and the PGA of America pulled the Grand Slam of Golf from Trump National Los Angeles (before cancelling the event permanently).
The R&A has yet to award a future Open Championship to Trump Turnberry, but PGA of America CEO Pete Bevacqua isn’t switching up styles. The 2022 PGA Championship is staying at Trump Bedminster, as have USGA officials who are conducting this year’s U.S. Women’s Open, with the support of the LPGA, at the New Jersey course.
On an even more troubling side note, actor Don Cheadle recently revealed that Donald Trump dropped racist comments while playing golf with the father of the actors friend. The N-word even.
Hated him since he asked my friend’s father at a Doral pro-am if he’d ever “f*cked a nigger…” Did it for me … https://t.co/ypCNEPldH5
Don Cheadle (@DonCheadle) March 4, 2017
With all of this in mind, according to golfdigest.com, UltraViolet, an activism community, has requested that the tournament be moved from Trump National Golf Club, claiming that by hosting the championship at the venue, golf “wants to give millions in revenue, free advertising and good branding” to Trump. UltraViolet calls this move into question, given its belief that Trump is a threat towards women’s rights. The petition has garnered more than 100,000 signatures.
“The USGA has a deep respect for the freedoms we all enjoy in our country to express our views,” the USGA told GolfDigest.com. “We are committed to fostering a game that is welcoming and inclusive to all who choose to play it, and ensuring our championships are conducted without discrimination and in a safe and secure manner for athletes, volunteers, staff and fans. We are excited to provide a comprehensive test of golf for the very best female players in the world.”
UltraViolet has protested and spoken out against a number of political and social issues in the past half-decade.
In 2012, the website successfully petitioned for the removal of the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s vice president after she planned on cutting Planned Parenthood funding. A few years back, the group tried to strong-arm the ousting of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell following some high profile domestic abuse incidents involving football players.
Calls to move the nation’s championship from Bedminster are not new. In October, three U.S. senators — Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Edward Markey (D-MA) and Bob Casey (D-PA) — sent a letter to the USGA’s Mike Davis asking to relocate the tournament following sexual remarks from Trump on a leaked tape. These protests have been ongoing and lightly reported on.
“In declining future association with a brand that degrades women, the USGA and LPGA have an opportunity to make clear to the world, and most especially young Americans, that our nation will not tolerate nor do business with any company that condones or excuses (such) action,” read the letter.
