The second round of the 2022 PGA Championship is underway at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Okla.
But if Donald Trump had his way, the golf world would be gathering this week at Trump National in Bedminster, N.J.
Following the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, Bedminster was stripped of the tournament by PGA of America.
The former president talked about that decision and more in a conversation with Golf Digest’s Michael Bamberger. Here are the highlights:
Bedminster’s loss
“I would’ve loved to have done it and because I have the right place, I have the right location, the Tom Fazio course — he feels it was one of his best jobs he’s ever done. It’s essentially right outside the Lincoln Tunnel, 20 minutes away. It’s perfect and big. And I have the two courses there. We have parking for thousands of cars. It would have been phenomenal.”
Would the PGA Tour be at Bedminster this week had the Jan. 6 protests been peaceful?
“I’ll tell you this. If you took a poll inside the PGA, the 28,000 members of the PGA of America, I’d be 97 percent, I believe. I’d be way up there. And people are really angry at what the PGA did to me by taking that tournament away. And I had nothing to do with January 6th. They’d be very angry at what they did. ... I had nothing to do with January 6th, but [the PGA of America] used that.”
Saudi-backed Super Golf League coming to Bedminster in July
“They asked me, they said they wanted to use the course,” Trump said, speaking of the LIV Golf executives. “I made a deal with them. They’re very good people. 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.”
Concerns with Saudi Arabia backing the new league amid human rights violations
“Saudi Arabia loves golf. The top guys there love golf. I know them very well and they’re very good people, the people that are involved. Five years ago they didn’t know anything about golf. They’re incredibly wanting to do this and they’re willing to spend, they have unlimited pockets, Michael. Unlimited pockets. Right? Everybody’s limited. I’m limited. All the rich guys you and I know are limited. We’re all limited, because we don’t wanna lose $100 million a year for the rest of our lives. Right? But Saudi Arabia has unlimited pockets, and it’s good for the country and it’s good for everything.”
The chances of Trump landing a future major at one of his 17 courses
“I think it’s highly unlikely.”
MORE GOLF:
- Jack Nicklaus defends Donald Trump, tees off on ‘cancel culture’ PGA Championship officials
- Mike Francesa defends Phil Mickelson ahead of PGA Championship
- Tiger Woods condemns Phil Mickelson’s views on PGA Tour, Saudi-backed Super Golf League
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Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com.
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