Bryson DeChambeau has backed Donald Trump to make the Open great again if it returns to the US president’s course at Turnberry.
R&A chiefs revealed earlier this week they held a ‘really good discussion’ with Trump’s family over whether their course could stage another Open.
Chief executive Mark Darbon met with the president’s son Eric to talk about the improvements Turnberry would need to host the event for the first time since 2009.
DeChambeau famously played a round with golf-obsessed Trump for the two-time major champion’s YouTube channel for a video that racked up 15million views and believes the President would make the tournament special.
‘Oh, yeah, I think he would,’ said DeChambeau after his incredible round of six-under turned around a horror opening loop yesterday to likely make the cut at Royal Portrush. ‘He’d still probably respect the R&A and what they’re trying to accomplish.
‘I can’t speak on his behalf, but what I can say is knowing him, he’ll do his best of a job as he possibly can, and I know they won’t let him down.
Bryson DeChambeau has backed Donald Trump to make the Open great again
R&A chiefs revealed earlier this week they held a ‘really good discussion’ with Trump’s family over whether Turnberry could stage another Open
DeChambeau famously played a round with golf-obsessed Trump for the two-time major champion’s YouTube channel
‘I look at it as a golf course. It’s one of the best golf courses in the world, and I’d love for it to be a part of the rotation, albeit I haven’t played it, I’ve heard so many great things about it, and anytime you get to play a special historical golf course like that, I think it’s worthy of it for sure.’
Darbon has not long succeeded previous chief executive Martin Slumbers, who had suggested taking the Open to Turnberry would take the focus away from golf and be too toxic, but has loosened the R&A’s stance on the matter.
‘I met a couple of months ago with Eric Trump and some of the leadership from the Trump golf organisation and from Turnberry, said Darbon. ‘We had a really good discussion. I think they understand clearly where we’re coming from. We talked through some of the challenges that we have so we’ve got a good dialogue with them.’
Reports in February claimed White House officials had asked Prime Minister Kier Starmer about the Open returning to Turnberry during his visit to Washington while King Charles also mentioned the course in a letter inviting Trump on a state visit.
‘We’ve been extremely clear on our position in respect of Turnberry,’ said Darbon. ‘We love the golf course but we’ve got some big logistical challenges there. You see the scale of their setup here and we’ve got some work to do on the road, rail and accommodation infrastructure.’
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Bryson DeChambeau backs Donald Trump’s Turnberry for Open return as talks over bringing a major back to iconic course emerge
