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Scotland stands to potentially miss out on hundreds of millions of dollars due to the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews’ unwillingness to bring the Open Championship back to a venue owned by Donald Trump.
A new report likely confirms that Turnberry Golf Club, which has hosted the men’s major championship four times previously, will not do so again while Trump owns the property.
The main concerns for the R&A are security risks and potential protests, according to The Telegraph.
The Trump family says it has invested nearly $200 million into Turnberry with the intention of once again hosting the Open — which it last did in 2009, before Trump’s $60 million purchase of the property in 2014. At one time, the course was viewed as likely to stay in the Open rotation.
Last year’s Open Championship at St. Andrews generated a total economic impact of $132 million for Scotland and nearly $400 million in economic benefits and global marketing for the region.
Turnberry is one of seven Scottish courses to have hosted the Open. Royal Troon, about 25 miles north up the country’s western coastline, will host the championship in 2024. In 2015, Turnberry hosted the Women’s British Open, which was awarded to the club before Trump’s purchase.
In the U.S., Trump Bedminster was scheduled to host the 2022 PGA Championship until the PGA of America changed course after the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. Trump’s New Jersey property did host the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open.
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