Turnberry course is perfect for the Open says Donald Trump
Thursday 30 July 2015 19:48, UK
Turnberry owner Donald Trump says his course will provide the "greatest canvas" for the Open, if the R&A want to use it, and stayed cool when asked about his recent controversial comments.
Golf's most influential organisations have distanced themselves from Trump's controversial views, which were expressed when he announced his decision to be a Republican Presidential Candidate in June.
The 69-year-old flew into Turnberry on Thursday, on the coast of the outer Firth of Clyde in southwestern Scotland, for this week's Women's British Open.
Asked if his comments detracted from the event, Trump said: "It's great. Everyone's asked me to be here. The Tour's asked me to be here. The world asked me to be here.
"I have a big stake in this great piece of land. It's 1,000 acres on the ocean. It's just a spectacular place."
Earlier this month the PGA of America announced it had been "mutually agreed" that the Grand Slam of Golf - a 36-hole event contested by the year's major champions - would not take place as scheduled at Trump National in Los Angeles on October 20-21.
Turnberry last staged the Open in 2009 and the earliest it could return is 2021, with soon-to-be-retiring R&A chief executive Peter Dawson appearing happy on the eve of the Open at St Andrews that a decision on taking the championship to the Ayrshire venue did not have to be made "for quite some time".
Asked if his outspoken nature could jeopardise the Open's return to Turnberry, Trump added: "It doesn't matter to me, I have to do what's right. What I said in the United States turned out to be true, it was right - we're talking about illegal immigration.
"This (Turnberry) will be the greatest canvas in the world, especially when it's renovated and finished the way they've wanted it for decades. The R&A has wanted this done for decades because the land is sitting there. All I can do is give the greatest canvas.
"The women are coming off today saying 'This is the greatest course we play on tour'. It will be even better a year from now, so we'll see what happens.
"This is considered the favourite course of the players so there's a lot of pressure to come back to Turnberry. I think there's probably not going to be a problem with that."
