The R&A says it has held a \u201creally good discussion\u201d with Donald Trump\u2019s family over the thorny issue of when their Turnberry course might stage the Open again.<\/p>\n
The governing body\u2019s new chief executive, Mark Darbon, said he had met with the president\u2019s son Eric and held positive talks about infrastructure improvements needed for Turnberry to host the event for the first time since 2009. \u201cI met a couple of months ago with Eric Trump and some of the leadership from the Trump golf organisation and from Turnberry,\u201d Darbon said. \u201cWe had a really good discussion. I think they understand clearly where we\u2019re coming from. We talked through some of the challenges that we have so we\u2019ve got a good dialogue with them.\u201d<\/p>\n
About 120,000 spectators watched the Open when it was last held in Turnberry. However, the event has grown to such an extent that 280,000 fans will be in Portrush.<\/p>\n
Darbon, who is overseeing his first Open, said there had been 1.2 million applications for tickets for this week\u2019s event and the R&A was \u201ckeen to service that demand where we can\u201d. However, he left open the door to a return to Turnberry by promising to work collaboratively with national and local government to improve transport links and accommodation levels at the South Ayrshire course.<\/p>\n
That was a notable shift in tone compared with his predecessor, Martin Slumbers, who had suggested that bringing the Open to Trump\u2019s course would be too toxic and take the focus away from the golf.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we\u2019ve been extremely clear on our position in respect of Turnberry,\u201d Darbon said. \u201cWe love the golf course but we\u2019ve got some big logistical challenges there. You see the scale of their setup here and we\u2019ve got some work to do on the road, rail and accommodation infrastructure.\u201d<\/p>\n
About 120,000 spectators watched the Open when it was last held in Turnberry in 2009. Photograph: Murdo MacLeod\/The Guardian<\/p>\n
In February, it was reported that White House officials had asked about Turnberry returning as an Open venue during the prime minister\u2019s visit to Washington. King Charles also referenced the course in a letter inviting the president to a second state visit to the UK in September.<\/p>\n
However, Darbon said the government had not put any pressure on them to accelerate a return to the Scottish course that Trump bought for \u00a339m in 2014.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve spoken to them specifically about Turnberry and I think they\u2019ve made it clear that the decision around where we take our championship rests with us,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ve explicitly not taken it out of our pool of venues but we\u2019d need to address those logistical challenges should we return.\u201d<\/p>\n
The R&A expects to announce the venue for the 2028 Open before the middle of next year \u2013 a timescale that would come too soon for Turnberry. However, Portmarnock in the Republic of Ireland is being considered as a venue in what would be a historic move with the Open being held outside the United Kingdom for the first time.<\/p>\n