Report: R&A explores Open return to Trump's Turnberry

Field Level Media|published: Tue 22nd April, 11:12 2025

Jul 21, 2024; Ayrshire, SCT; Xander Schauffele celebrates with Claret Jug after winning the Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Troon. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-Imagn Images

The R&A confirmed Tuesday it is exploring a possible return of The Open Championship to Donald Trump's Turnberry.

The seaside course in South Ayrshire, Scotland, has been owned by the U.S. president since 2014.

Turnberry has hosted The Open four times, most recently in 2009 when Stewart Cink defeated 59-year-old Tom Watson in a four-hole playoff to win the Claret Jug.

The R&A, following the attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters on Jan. 6, 2021, previously said it would not stage championships there.

However, a potential return is more a matter of logistics than politics, according R&A chief executive Mark Darbon.

"At Turnberry, there are definitely some logistical and commercial challenges that we face around the road, rail and accommodation infrastructure," he told British media. "We're doing some feasibility work around what it would look like to return to that venue and the investment that it would require."

Darbon pointed out that "just over 120,000 people" attended The Open at Turnberry in 2009, compared to the anticipated crowd of about 280,000 for this July's tournament at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland.

"What we know for sure is the golf course is brilliant, so at some point we'd love to be back there," Darbon said.

Turnberry also hosted The Open in 1977, 1986 and 1994.

--Field Level Media