Democratic U.S. senators ask USGA to move U.S. Women’s Open from Trump-owned course
The U.S. Golf Assn. is facing pressure to relocate the 2017 women’s open from a golf course owned by Donald Trump.
Three Democratic U.S. senators — Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Edward Markey of Massachusetts and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania — sent a letter to the USGA on Monday requesting the July 10-16 event not take place at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J., because of a “pattern of degrading and dehumanizing women” displayed by the Republican presidential nominee.
The Trump Organization has declined to comment on the letter.
Earlier this month, a 2005 video surfaced of Trump using vulgar language about women. Since then, he has been accused by a series of women of unwanted sexual advances; Trump has denied those allegations.
In an Oct. 12 column, USA Today’s Christine Brennan called for the U.S. Women’s Open to be moved from the Trump-owned course. She wrote: “ A Trump golf course, no matter how beautiful and centrally located it might be, cannot play host to an event that is the crown jewel of a women’s sport, with competitors from around the world — not after all the awful things Trump has said about minorities, immigrants and women, culminating in the lewd and disgusting video that was made public last Friday.”
Days later, LPGA chief Mike Whan said his organization would support the USGA’s decision, no matter what it may be. “All I’ve said to the USGA is this, ‘You have long since proven you support women’s golf so if you tell us this is the right place to play then we’re right there with you,’” he said.
Golfweek interviewed 12 players at the LPGA KEB HanaBank Championship in South Korea that weekend and found only one who was adamant the women’s open should be moved.
“On principle, I feel it’s just not right,” England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff said of holding the event at Trump’s course.
The magazine said the rest of the players interviewed felt politics shouldn’t influence where an LPGA event is held.
“I say keep it there,” 2016 women’s open champion Brittany Lang said. “I don’t think it’s related.”
Trump friend and 2007 women’s open champion Cristie Kerr said, “Nobody treats the LPGA better than Donald.”
Twitter: @chewkiii
Get our high school sports newsletter
Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
