The most recent target of the ire of former President Donald Trump has been none other than the PGA Tour. In a post on social media sent out this week, he told the professional golfers that are part of the Tour that they need to take steps to leave and join up with the brand new LIV Golf from Saudi Arabia.
This post from Trump comes in the wake of the PGA Tour struggling with its players abandoning the tour in efforts to join up with LIV Golf, which included Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson.
“All of those golfers that remain ‘loyal’ to the very disloyal PGA, in all of its different forms, will pay a big price when the inevitable MERGER with LIV comes, and you get nothing but a big ‘thank you’ from PGA officials who are making Millions of Dollars a year,” expressed Trump. “If you don’t take the money now, you will get nothing after the merger takes place, and only say how smart the original signees were. Good luck to all, and congratulations to really talented Cam Smith on his incredible WIN!”
The PGA Tour was slated to hold its 2022 PGA Championship on the Bedminster course owned by Trump but has since reversed course on their choice as a response to the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
The president of PGA of America, Jim Richerson, stated in a release on the 10th of January, 2021, “The PGA of America Board of Directors voted tonight to exercise the right to terminate the agreement to play the 2022 PGA Championship at Trump Bedminster.”
“The PGA of America is [a] nearly 105-year-old association with a perpetual mission to serve its member golf professionals and to grow the game,” Richerson went on to add. “Fulfilling that mission for all and enabling PGA professionals to do so today and in the future is of paramount importance to the PGA board of directors and our leaders.”
“It has become clear that conducting the PGA Championship at Trump Bedminster would be detrimental to the PGA of America brand,” he went on. “It would put at risk the PGA’s ability to deliver our many programs and sustain the longevity of our mission.”
“Our board has thus made the decision to exercise our right to terminate the contract to hold the 2022 PGA Championship at Trump Bedminster,” he finished. “It was a decision made to ensure that PGA of America and the PGA professionals can continue to lead and grow our great game for decades to come. Thank you for your continued support and passion for the game we all love.”
Trump, in response to the PGA’s choice, Trump is allowing LIV Golf to host a tournament at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, claiming in an interview that they approached him about the subject and he was happy to oblige.
“I made a deal with them. They’re very good people,” explained Trump. “They’re very fine people. Greg Norman’s been a total gentleman, you know, and he’s wanted to do this for years and now he has the right backers because, you know, [the Saudi money] is unlimited. They can do the job right. I think when you put up first-place prize money for $6 or $7 million, I think a lot of people are gonna be showing up, to be honest with you.”