Three U.S. senators have formally asked the USGA to move the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open from the Donald Trump-owned Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J.
Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) wrote a letter to the USGA — namely executive director and CEO Mike Davis — imploring the organization to move the event, set to be played July 13-16.
“The decision that the USGA makes is more consequential than simply the geographic location of a golf tournament,” the letter read. “In declining future association with a brand that degrades women, the USGA and LPGA have an opportunity to make clear to the world, and most especially young Americans, that our nation will not tolerate nor do business with any company that condones or excuses action that constitutes sexual assault.”
Trump National was awarded the U.S. Women’s Open in May 2012.
This is not the first time that Trump-owned courses have come under fire during the election season. LPGA commissioner Mike Whan said he would have wanted to move the 2015 Women’s British Open from Trump-owned Turnberry. The resulting fallout led to Trump bashing Whan publicly and the tournament being played at the Scottish resort anyway.
Whan is not vocal about the U.S. Women’s Open host course, deferring to his players, which, according to Golfweek, are in favor of keeping the event at Trump National.
“(The players) don’t want politics to impact, it’s not like the men’s tour where it’s just another week and they’ll play another one for $ 12 million,” Whan told Golfweek last week. “The last thing they’d want is their commissioner to have a real statement in politics that affects opportunities out there. But … USGA has been too good to me and the LPGA to not stand behind them. … We got you.”
The senators can also expect a major pro golf tournament to land in their work backyard next summer, with the PGA of America bringing the Kitchen Aid Senior PGA Championship to Trump National Golf Club, just across the Potomac River in northern Virginia.
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
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