Donald Trump made his way to Trump National Doral on Sunday afternoon to observe the final round of the Cadillac Championship at his golf property, keeping a relatively low profile at a PGA Tour competition that had attracted attention earlier in the week due to surprisingly thin attendance during the tournament’s initial days.
The stop was part of a wider Florida swing that had previously featured remarks at The Villages retirement community on Friday and a stop in West Palm Beach.
These marked his first public appearances since authorities apprehended an individual at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on April 25 after officials reported he charged the gathering while armed with several weapons.
Trump’s presence at Doral held particular political and symbolic significance. The PGA Tour had avoided his properties for a decade, withdrawing its established Doral tournament in 2016 and moving it to Mexico City due to sponsor concerns regarding his political statements, reports The Mirror US.
Trump had openly criticized the decision at the time, describing it as “a sad day for Miami, the United States and the game of golf” while taking a sharp jab at the new location: “I hope they have kidnapping insurance.” The tour’s exit helped strengthen his partnership with LIV Golf, the Saudi-funded competing league that held tournaments at Doral starting in 2022 as the PGA Tour remained absent.
Now, during Trump’s second presidency, the PGA Tour has returned. The Cadillac Championship marks the first Tour competition at the property since 2016, and its comeback to Doral stands as one of the more notable instances of organizations that previously kept their distance from Trump discreetly making room for him.
Eric Trump, the president’s son and executive vice president of the Trump Organization, characterized the weekend in triumphant language. “We are incredibly proud to welcome the PGA Cadillac Championship back to Trump National Doral,” he said in a statement. “This tournament has long stood among the very best in the world of golf, and there is no doubt this will be an unforgettable weekend.”
The president himself seemed to embrace the moment. “They’re at my tournament right now, the PGA,” Trump informed reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday, mentioning he had personally played rounds with some of the athletes.
He also previewed an upcoming LIV competition at another of his facilities. “In two weeks, LIV is going to be at my course right here on the Potomac.”
The event hasn’t been without its challenges. Photos from the stands around the 18th green spread across social media earlier this week revealing substantial sections of unoccupied seats, even during play featuring well-known golfers. Sparse attendance figures sparked worry among fans and pundits regarding the tournament’s capacity to attract spectators, despite offering a $3.6 million first prize and ranking fifth among the season’s eight signature events.