PGA of America and The Trump Organization reach settlement regarding 2022 PGA Championship

“We look forward to continuing to support the mission of the PGA and its Professionals.”

The 2022 PGA Championship was originally scheduled to be held at Trump National Golf Club in New Jersey, however, the PGA of America canceled the contract. Today, it was announced that the two sides have reached an agreed settlement.

Despite the conclusion, the details of the arrangement were not released.

“The Trump Organization’s contribution to the golf community is appreciated,” the PGA of America said in a statement. “We are thankful the company employs hundreds of dedicated PGA Professionals and consistently gives back to the golf community through hosting charitable events and sponsoring junior golf programs. As stated in 2014 when announced, Trump Bedminster is a major championship-worthy golf course and in a portfolio along with some of the finest private and public golf courses anywhere in the world.”

As for The Trump Organization, Executive Vice President Eric Trump released the following: “We have great respect for the work of the PGA.  Over the past 20+ years, we have enjoyed working with the PGA to deliver to our club members and the public some of the greatest golf experiences anywhere in the world.  We look forward to continuing to support the mission of the PGA and its Professionals, who are the best in the golf industry.”

The tournament will now be played at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Southern Hills has hosted seven major championships on the men’s side, most recently the 2007 PGA Championship won by Tiger Woods.

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Pro-Trump insurrection attempt should convince sports teams that there’s no such thing as apolitical

If you went to the White House, you made a choice to support Trump.

Wednesday’s storming of the U.S. Capitol by pro-Trump insurrectionists was a surreal, chilling but predictable end to a chaotic, racist and violent administration.

When Trump took office four years ago, the writing about who he was as a human being and leader was clear to anyone willing to pay attention. There were numerous credible allegations of sexual assault and abuse. There were despicable, racist comments about immigrants and foreigners. He mocked the disabled. He urged violence on the news media and on his political opponents.

There was never any shying away from the fact that his appeal was based on the thinly disguised veneer of white supremacy, of appealing to the perceived oppression of white men and women disgruntled at having to recognize the basic humanity and equality of all people of color.

From the beginning he has urged his fervent and deluded supporters to commit violence in his name, offering even to pay legal fees for them should they get arrested.

Donald Trump holds a team jersey as New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft (R) and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick (L) look on. Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

And yet even when it became clear that there was no bar too low, that he thought the White Nationalists in Charlottesville were “very fine people,” many major league sports teams still took the opportunity to stand by his side. Numerous championship teams still made the visit to this White House. Players were photographed shaking Trump’s hand, taking selfies, and smiling as they handed him a jersey with his name stitched on the back. They made clear, through their grins and fist pumps and effusive gobbling down of congealed fast food, that as along as they had a good time, everything else could be glossed over as the cost of doing business.

Donald J. Trump (L) delivers remarks beside St. Louis Blues forward Alex Steen (MICHAEL REYNOLDS)

There were principled teams and players who took a stand, like the Golden State Warriors and Philadelphia Eagles who knew better than to pose next to a preening agitator, but many went either because they fully bought into Trump’s divisive rhetoric, or because they hid under the banner of apolitical cowardice.

Over four years, plenty of teams strolled through the portico doors of the White House’s East Room, deferring to tradition even when it became exceedingly clear that the man occupying the West Wing had run roughshod all over basic democratic norms. The New England Patriots, the Washington Nationals, the Pittsburgh Penguins, the St. Louis Blues, the Washington Capitals, the Boston Red Sox and more all publicly stood shoulder to shoulder with a man who, on Wednesday incited his followers to violently disrupt Congressional proceedings that would certify his removal from office.

Donald Trump reacts as player Kurt Suzuki wears a “Make America Great Again” hat during a ceremony to welcome the 2019 World Series Champions, the Washington Nationals on the South Lawn. (Photo by OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images)

Donald Trump has always made it clear exactly who he is. And yet, players and teams, as they didn’t want to admit they stood by what Trump believes, have pretended that the they were somehow honoring the institution, or feigned to be “apolitical,” when the question of visits came up.

“It was amazing. That was the president. Just trying to have some fun,” Kurt Suzuki told USA TODAY Sports after the Washington Nationals visit. “Everybody makes everything political. It was about our team winning the World Series.”

“From my side of things, there’s absolutely no politics involved,” Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said ahead of the teams 2017 visit.

“Every time you get an invitation from the president and being at the White House, it’s going to be a great experience…it’s been a tradition, I think, for many years. We’re not going to mix politics with sports,” Capitals Nicklas Backstrom said of their 2019 visit.

President Donald J. Trump participates in a visit with 2016 Stanley Cup Champions: The Pittsburgh Penguins Tuesday October 10, 2017, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

Wednesday’s pictures of frenzied and armed Trump supporters taking over the Congressional floor should be enough to dispel the myth that supporting Trump, in any way manner or form, was an apolitical act. Crowding next to him for a photo op meant ignoring all the violent rhetoric that lead up to Wednesday’s events that left four people dead.

Every visit to the White House is a political act, because it’s implicit support of not just the office, but the man in the office. If it hadn’t already been clear for years, yesterday’s events left no room for doubt what the current man in office is terrifyingly capable of. When players chose to stand next to him, that is the leader they propped up.

Apolitical is a privilege granted only to those who don’t have to worry about the consequences of political actions. For a long time, plenty of athletes have used it as cover. Trump’s inciting of an insurrection should make clear it’s not an acceptable excuse, but an act of moral cowardice.

Jack Nicklaus explains why he voted for President Donald Trump

Golf legend Jack Nicklaus posted a statement to Twitter urging people to vote and explaining why he voted for President Donald Trump.

Legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus posted a statement to Twitter on Wednesday night urging people to vote and detailing why he cast his ballot for President Donald Trump.

In Nicklaus’ view, Trump has “delivered on his promises” and “worked for the average person,” while being “more diverse than any President I have seen and has tried to help people from all walks of life – equally.”

Nicklaus also believes that “Trump’s policies will bring the American Dream to many families across the nation.”

Nicklaus, 80, won 73 times on the PGA Tour and is golf’s all-time leader in major wins with 18. Nicknamed “The Golden Bear,” Nicklaus also founded the Memorial Tournament in his home state of Ohio and has been involved in the design of a lengthy list of golf courses. Over the summer, Nicklaus revealed that he and his wife had tested positive for COVID-19 back in the early days of the pandemic in March.

In his Wednesday statement of support for Trump, he wrote: “You might not like the way our President says or tweets some things – and trust me, I have told him that! – but I have learned to look past that and focus on what he’s tried to accomplish.

“This is not a personality contest; it’s about patriotism, policies and the people they impact. His love for America and its citizens, and putting his country first, has come through loud and clear. How he has said it has not been important to me. What has been important are his actions.”

Nicklaus urged any undecided voters to vote for Trump, writing “if we want to continue to have the opportunity to pursue the American Dream, and not evolve into a socialist America and have the government run your life, then I strongly recommend you consider Donald J. Trump for another 4 years.”

Shortly after the posting of Nicklaus’ statement, Trump – an avid golfer – thanked the Golden Bear for his support. “Jack, this is a Great Honor. Thank you!” Trump wrote in a tweet he pinned atop his page.

President Trump and Nicklaus have played rounds of golf together on multiple occasions. Tiger Woods, second behind Nicklaus on golf’s all-time majors list, joined Nicklaus and Trump for one round in 2019.

Nicklaus was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States’ highest civilian honor, by then-President George W. Bush in 2005.