Peter Dawson, the outgoing chief executive of the R&A, has insisted Donald Trump’s controversial comments on Mexican immigrants should be no barrier to the Open returning to Ayrshire.
Trump, who owns Turnberry, caused outrage this summer when he said of Mexico: “They’re sending people that have lots of problems and they’re bringing those problems. They’re bringing drugs, they’re bringing crime. They’re rapists and some, I assume, are good people.”
Amid the backlash, there was a call for tournaments to be removed from Trump courses. The PGA of America’s Grand Slam that was due to be played at Trump Los Angeles was cancelled.
At the Open Dawson sidestepped the issue when it was put to him that the R&A was now conflicted in terms of Turnberry and the integrity of the oldest major. At that point, it was easy to infer golf’s governing body was keen simply for furore attached to the US presidential candidate’s comments to die down.
Turnberry remains part of the Open rota but there is no date for the championship’s return there; 2020 is seen as the earliest that may happen.
“To think that we are going to determine where an Open is held because of something somebody said on the political trail in America is absurd,” Dawson said. “I don’t think that’s going to happen. We have other priorities, but that’s for a future committee to judge.”
Dawson was similarly bullish about the circus surrounding Trump. The early stages of the women’s British Open, played at Turnberry in late July, were overshadowed by the appearance of the tycoon. Trump again received stinging criticism for his approach, which detracted from the tournament.
“I think you’ve got to give us a bit of credit for being able to organise the Open, to be honest,” Dawson said.
Dawson will hand over his post to Martin Slumbers later this month but will remain a prominent figure, including as the president of the International Golf Federation which is overseeing the sport’s return to the Olympic Games.
