Trump National stripped of 2022 PGA Championship in wake of Capitol riots

PGA of America said hosting the tournament at Trump’s Bedminster course would be ‘detrimental’

The PGA of America’s board of directors have stripped Trump National, owned by the outgoing US President, of the rights to hold the 2022 edition of the PGA Championship.

The governing body’s president, Jim Richerson, said that hosting the major championship at Trump’s Bedminster course would be “detrimental” to the PGA of America’s image in the wake of rioters storming the Capitol.

The vote was held after Trump exhorted thousands of his supporters to march on the building last Wednesday, prompting mayhem as rioters breached the Capitol and caused both its chambers to be evacuated. Five people passed away during the chaos. 

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 “It has become clear that conducting the PGA Championship at Trump Bedminster would be detrimental to the PGA of America brand and would put at risk the PGA's ability to deliver our many programs and sustain the longevity of our mission," Richerson said. 

Trump National Golf Club hosted the Women’s US Open Championship in 2017 (Getty Images)

A representative for the Trump Organization said they were "incredibly disappointed" with the PGA of America’s decision to breach a “binding contract”.

"We have had a beautiful partnership with the PGA of America ... This is a breach of a binding contract and they have no right to terminate the agreement," the representative said.

"As an organisation we have invested many millions of dollars in the 2022 PGA Championship at Trump National Golf Club, Bedminster.

"We will continue to promote the game of golf on every level and remain focused on operating the finest golf courses anywhere in the world."

Trump National, based in New Jersey, is one of 17 courses owned by the president. The decision to award the major championship to Bedminster was taken in 2012, before his run for presidency.

Trump’s other major championship venue, Turnberry, has hosted The Open Championship on four occasions previously. The R&A insist the Scottish course remains part of their rota, however, it has not hosted the tournament since 2009.  

“Turnberry is one of the 10 courses,” the R&A’s chief executive, Martin Slumbers, said last year. “We’ve talked about this many times in terms of it being part of the pool of courses, nothing’s changed from the previous points and comments that I’ve made on that in respect to talking The Open there. But it’s absolutely one of the pool of courses.”