Donald Trump says he enjoys good relationships with governing bodies
Monday 7 March 2016 08:30, UK
Donald Trump insists he has good relationships with golf's governing bodies despite expressing some controversial views during his US election campaign.
Golf's most influential organisations distanced themselves from Turnberry owner Trump in the wake of his views on Mexican immigrants, which were expressed when the 69-year-old announced his decision to stand for the Republican nomination for President of the United States last June.
The Grand Slam of Golf was moved from Trump National in Los Angeles in October, while the PGA Tour is considering alternative venues for the WGC-Cadillac Championship from 2017 after his call for a "total and complete" ban on Muslims entering America.
"My relationship [with golf's ruling bodies] is very good, I'm also the frontrunner [for the Republican presidential nomination]," Trump said during Sunday's final round of the WGC-Cadillac in Florida.
"Being the frontrunner people like you more than if you were number 12."
The PGA Tour has a contract to hold the WGC event at Doral until 2023, but with the proviso that a new title sponsor would have the right to take the tournament to a different course. Cadillac's sponsorship ends this year.
"I have a great relationship with the Tour and I have a great relationship with Cadillac," Trump added. "In fact we just extended our relationship for another three years [to provide cars for Trump's properties].
"I don't know how Cadillac is doing with the Tour. I don't know if there's going to be an extension or not, but I would imagine you could get another sponsor pretty easily in south Florida."
Turnberry last staged the Open in 2009 and the earliest it could return is 2022, meaning the R&A does not have to rush into a decision on when its showcase event will return to the course.
"Turnberry has always been the players' favourite course," Trump told Sky Sports 4 HD. "We have taken the ninth, 10th and 11th holes and moved them back into the ocean.
"We have got the tees on number 18 in the ocean and we have done it all in conjunction with the Royal and Ancient. Turnberry will be something very special."
