Trump Golf Courses Reportedly in Talks to Host Tournaments for Highly-Controversial New Saudi Tour

Joe DePaoloFeb 20th, 2022, 9:32 am

Al Drago/Getty Images

His courses have been spurned by the PGA Tour and the PGA of America. So now, according to a new report, former President Donald Trump’s golf properties may soon host events for a highly-controversial new pro tour which is being financially backed by the government of Saudi Arabia.

A Washington Post story out Saturday reveals that the Trump Organization has been in talks with the new tour to host tournaments at its courses in Bedminister, NJ and Doral, FL. The latter course hosted PGA Tour events for 55 years, until the tour severed its ties with the Trump course during the 2016 presidential campaign.

Six-time major champion Phil Mickelson has been openly flirting with the new Saudi tour, citing his discontent with how the PGA Tour operates.

“They’re scary motherfuckers to get involved with,” Mickelson told golf writer Alan Shipnuck. “They killed [Washington Post reporter Jamal] Khashoggi and have a horrible record on human rights. They execute people over there for being gay. Knowing all of this, why would I even consider it? Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates.”

Mickelson has since come under heavy criticism, with famed ESPN commentator Tony Kornheiser notably calling out the golf great for considering taking “blood money.”

Shipnuck has reported that the Saudi tour has signed 20 players. Two-time major winner Dustin Johnson, U.S. Open Champion Bryson DeChambeau, and Masters champion Adam Scott are among the players rumored to be considering a move, along with Mickelson.

On top of losing the annual PGA Tour event at Doral, Trump’s Bedminster course was stripped of the 2022 PGA championship days after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Trump had spent decades trying to score a major championship for one of his courses, only to lose it less than 18 months before one of his courses was scheduled to host.

UPDATE 11:26 a.m. —— Moments ago, Dustin Johnson announced that he is committed to the PGA Tour.