The Professional Golfers’ Association has ditched Trump Doral, the PGA Tour’s location since 1962, and was planning to move the World Golf Championship to Mexico City. Some believe the transition was politically charged — an attempt to spite presumptive nominee Donald Trump — and some say it is strictly business.
“(The PGA had) an obligation to their board and they couldn’t find a sponsor,” chairman Butch Buchholz said, according to ESPN. “They don’t have a choice.”
“I just heard that the PGA Tour is taking their tournament out of Miami and moving it to Mexico,” Trump stated in response. “It’s at Doral … but they’re moving it to Mexico. I hope they have kidnapping insurance.”
That’s Trump for you — “kidnapping insurance.” Despite the humorous remark, kidnapping is a very big problem in Mexico, reaching record numbers in recent years.
While Trump slammed the move, PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem gave an in-depth answer.
“Some of the reaction revolves around the feeling that this is political exercise, and it is not that in any way, shape or form,” Finchem said at a news conference. “The decision here was based on the reality that we are not able to secure sponsorship for next year’s WGC at Doral or for years out for that matter.