The R&A has joined golf's most influential organisations in distancing itself from disparaging comments US presidential candidate Donald Trump made about Mexican immigrants.
Announcing his decision to stand for president last month, Trump aired his views on immigration, saying: “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”
On Tuesday, Trump told the Golf Channel he had “tremendous support from the golf world because they all know I’m right. I’ve been great to golf. I’ve been investing while everybody else was fleeing”.
However, on Wednesday the PGA of America, PGA Tour, USGA and LPGA issued a joint statement which read: “In response to Mr Trump’s comments about the golf industry ‘knowing he is right’ in regards to his recent statements about Mexican immigrants, we feel compelled to clarify that those remarks do not reflect the views of our organisations.
“While the LPGA, PGA of America, PGA Tour and USGA do not usually comment on Presidential politics, Mr Trump’s comments are inconsistent with our strong commitment to an inclusive and welcoming environment in the game of golf.”
And on Thursday, an R&A spokesman said: “The R&A believes that golf should be open to all and echoes the sentiments of the United States’ golf organisations.”
Trump, 69, owns courses that have ties to all major golf organisations. The WGC-Cadillac Championship is played at Trump National Doral in Miami and the PGA Tour’s Puerto Rico Open is at Trump International Golf Club in Puerto Rico, while in Ireland he owns Trump International at Doonbeg Lodge in County Clare.
Both the 2017 US Women’s Open and the 2022 US PGA Championship are due to be staged at Trump National in New Jersey. The Senior PGA Championship will be played at Trump National Golf Club in Virginia in 2017 and Trump Golf Links Ferry Point outside New York City will host The Barclays PGA Tour event in 2017. The PGA Grand Slam of Golf is scheduled for this October at Trump National Golf Club in Los Angeles.
Trump also owns Turnberry, which is on the Open Championship rota and staged the most recent of its four Opens in 2009.
