Trump

It’s been another eventful week for golf and the action has unfortunately again been off of the golf course. Donald Trump, who inside of golf, is viewed as a successful golf course developer and owner of premier golf facilities. He is also highly connected to all of golf’s major organizations as a host of events ranging from major championships to PGA TOUR events.

Trump is now a 2016 Republican candidate for President of the United States. He recently created a firestorm of controversy and criticism for the following comments he made a couple of weeks ago regarding illegal aliens entering the U.S. from Mexico.

“The U.S. has become a dumping ground for everybody else’s problems. When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. 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.”

Trump was referring to illegal aliens, not Mexican-American citizens who earned their right to live in this country. A few days after the highly controversial remarks, Trump tried to clarify his position.

“I like Mexico. I love the Mexican people. I do business with the Mexican people, but you have people coming through the border that are from all over. And they’re bad. They’re really bad,” he said. “You have people coming in, and I’m not just saying Mexicans. I’m talking about people that are from all over that are killers and rapists and they’re coming into this country.”

Interestingly, Trump has risen in the polls since speaking out on the immigration problems that face the United States. Currently, he is second in the Republican polls with 12% voter approval. He trails Jeb Bush who has 19%. If Trump fails to get the GOP nomination, there is a good chance that he might run as an Independent candidate. He claims to be worth $8.7 billion which gives him the financial foundation to complete the race.

This week, USA Today explored the Trump political appeal. Several things surfaced. “He says what everyone else thinks but is afraid to say because they want to be politically correct. For every candidate who is pushed and prodded by political consultants and polls, there is a Trump sound bite. Trump is not in it for the money. He doesn’t have to pander donors, because he is paying for his campaign himself. He just wants to fix the country.”

But it wasn’t all positive. “Trump will eventually say something destructive to his candidacy. Trump mocks and insults his opponents, from Mitt Romney (who he says is worth less than Trump’s Gucci store) to Rosie O’Donnell, whom Trump called “Fat Little Rosie” during a feud.

Safe to say, in many ways that you never know what you are going to get with Donald Trump. I was the President of the PGA of America when it entered into a business deal with Trump. That included the 2022 PGA Championship at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, the 2017 Senior PGA at Trump National GC Washington DC, as well as a four-year Trump sponsorship of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf beginning in 2015. We were all happy to do business with Trump.

During my PGA Presidency I spent time with Trump. I have been in his office at 725 5^th Avenue in Manhattan. We have discussed renovation plans and looked at blue prints for Turnberry GC in Scotland which Trump acquired over a year ago. We played golf together at Trump National in Bedminster and I had the privilege to be his guest at Trump International in Scotland a year ago this week during the Scottish Open. I have spoken on the phone with Trump numerous times on a variety of subjects. I feel like I know the man and understand him- as much as anyone can.

I do not believe that Donald Trump is a bigot. I do believe that he shoots from the hip at times and he is certainly a polarizing individual. Trump is generous and well-liked by the people who work for him. He flaunts his successes which turns a lot of people off. Can he be the President of the United States? Voters will make that choice.

This week the PGA of America yanked the upcoming Grand Slam of Golf from Trump Los Angeles. However, it decided to let Trump properties continue to host the remaining three Grand Slams and both Majors. That is a curious reaction from the PGA who has been all about political correctness, diversity and inclusion. It’s surprising that the PGA’s approach to Trump was not “all or nothing at all.”

Trump was fired last week by NBC after his Mexican remarks. No more “The Apprentice” or any of the Trump-owned beauty pageants. In turn Trump is suing NBC for $500 million and he has banned network employees from the Doral resort which he owns. NBC/Golf Channel has the television rights to the PGA Grand Slam of Golf. NBC is also a major media partner with the PGA of America stemming from the Ryder Cup TV rights through 2030. NBC means more to the PGA than does Trump. Stayed tuned to see what eventually happens with the last three years of the Trump sponsored PGA Grand Slam of Golf.

Trump has certainly put the PGA Tour, USGA, PGA of America, the LPGA and the R&A in a tough spot. Some are saying that Turnberry may now be dropped from the Open Championship rotation and that would be a shame. The PGA Tour faces tough decisions with its WGC event at Trump-owned Doral. That event is sponsored by Cadillac which has factories in Mexico. The USGA is scheduled to play the U.S. Women’s Open at Trump Bedminster in two years.

Can Donald Trump be a Presidential candidate and stay active in professional golf? It doesn’t appear that will be the case. But knowing Trump, he has that figured out, too.           

US Open- Preview

This week’s United State Open might turn out to be the most interesting and unique major championship of the 2015 season. Chambers Bay, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., is located on the Puget Sound in University Place, Washington. Golf fans will find the viewing to be spectacular and like nothing they are used to seeing in the U.S.

In preparation for this story I reached out to Michael Bamberger, my good friend and noted writer for Sports Illustrated. What can you tell me that I need to know about Chambers Bay?

“Phil (Mickelson) told me he is going to Chambers Bay looking to win his second British Open- that says it all,” said Bamberger.

The terrain at Chambers Bay is rugged and wind-blown. Mickelson’s analogy is spot on because this U.S. Open venue takes on the characteristics of many of the courses in the British Open rotation. Players will be required to bump and run, but at the same time deal with obstacles such as Hell’s Acre which abuts an old quarry wall.

Several holes are extremely narrow and an errant tee shot will find a waste bunker in the sand dunes or thick and gnarly fescue areas. The 17^th Hole is a long par three with the winds of the Puget Sound likely staring players in the face. To add that element of quirkiness, freight trains will pass along the back edge of the green.

This will be the second major championship played at Chambers Bay. The 2010 U.S. Amateur Championship was held here and during the competition twelve spectators suffered broken ankles. This is one of those major championship sites where you have to seriously ask, “Why would you attend this when you can sit in the comfort of your living room and watch others- players and spectators- battle the elements?”

From the time the USGA announced that it would be taking the U.S. Open to Chambers Bay it has been a controversial site. If need be, this par 70 course can stretch to 7,795 yards. The Front Nine can measure 4,019 yards from the tips. Factor the wind, firmness of the ground and the roll out that balls with the uneven terrain and this could be more entertaining that anything golf fans have witnessed in years. 

Golfers are somewhat sadistic by nature and they love watching other golfers suffer. Back in April, USGA Executive Director Mike Davis threw gasoline on the fire when he said, “The idea of coming in and playing two practice rounds and having your caddie just walk it and using your yardage book, that person’s done, will not win the U.S. Open.”

Webb Simpson scoffed and said he would be playing for second place. Ian Poulter said that other players told him the course was “a complete farce.” Rory McIlroy asked about Davis’ handicap when questioning the Exec’s predictions on player preparation. Most experts on course setup fear that windy, dry conditions could cause the USGA to lose control of the course, similar to what happened at Shinnecock Hills in ’04. 

Tiger Woods evidently took heed to Davis’ warnings as he reportedly spent seven hours playing his first 18-hole practice round at Chambers Bay. Mickelson also added, “The first time you play, it’s like St. Andrews. You don’t know where to go. The more you play it, the more you like it.”

The problem the players had in preparing for Chambers Bay was getting there. The PGA Tour schedule was tight and being played in the Southeast. A trek across country to University Place was not easy. So, despite Davis’ warnings many will show up, do their two practice rounds and head to the tee on Thursday.        

I applaud the USGA for its selection of another unique U.S. Open venue. Critics said Merion was too short for a national championship in 2013. Davis proved otherwise. His brilliance in course setup demonstrated that the USGA had found a formula for transforming courses which were once considered obsolete due to a lack of length.

Without question the most prepared individual at Chambers Bay this week will be Davis. His neck is on the line for a couple of reasons. The obvious we just covered. The other will be the debut of FOX Sports and its coverage of U.S. Open. Not only will it be FOX’s debut, but the challenges inherit with a site as rugged as Chambers Bay will test the network’s lack of production experience. 

Finding much of the U.S. Open coverage will be a challenge for golf’s TV viewers. FOX Sports 1 will do much of the telecast this week and it’s still not a “regular channel” in many households. As a service to the USGA here is the schedule for the week. All times are EST.

Thursday, June 18- First Round Noon-8 pm FOX Sports 1 8-11 pm FOX

Friday, June 19- Second Round Noon-8 pm FOX Sports 1 8-11 pm FOX

Saturday, June 20- Third Round 2-10 pm FOX 

Sunday, June 21- Final Round 2-10:30 pm FOX

Monday, June 22- Playoff Noon-4 pm (if needed)

 “I’d love to see Phil complete the career Grand Slam. He’s been great for golf and deserves it, but I don’t see it. He’ll be 45 and Opens are hard to win. They’re 72 holes of sheer grinding and I don’t think that is Phil’s specialty. Majors are a young man’s game,” concludes Bamberger who favors McIlroy to win.

This U.S. Open is far too difficult to handicap. My only prediction is that it will be the most entertaining major of the 2015 golf season and the USGA gets all of the credit for that.