KAPALUA, Hawaii – The United States PGA has severed ties with President Donald Trump when it approved the withdrawal of next year’s PGA Championship from the New Jersey president’s golf course on Sunday.
The vote came four days after Trump’s invasion of the National Chapter, when Congress certified the election victory of elite President Joe Biden. This is the second time in five years that the US PGA has withdrawn one of its competitions from a Trump field.
PGA President Jim Richerson said the council had approved the exercise of its right to “terminate the agreement” with Trump National in Bedminster, New Jersey.
“We are in a political situation for which we are not responsible,” Seth Waugh, CEO of the US PGA, said in a telephone interview.
“We are the trustees of our members, of the game, of our mission and of our brand. And what is the best way to protect this? Our feeling from Wednesday’s tragic events is that we can no longer compete at Bedminster. The damage could have been irreparable. Leaving was the only real course of action. “
The US PGA, which has about 29,000 professional golfers, most of whom teach the sport, signed an agreement with Trump National in 2014.
The organization canceled the 2015 PGA Golf Grand Slam to be held at the Trump National Golf Club in Los Angeles after the tycoon’s derogatory remarks about Mexican immigrants when he announced that he would apply for the Republican presidency.
That tournament was canceled for the next spring.