USGA has put golfers in an awful position in Donald Trump's shadow at the U.S. Women's Open

[yallerdawg]

Source: NJ.com, by Steve Politi

*****

The media will get criticized, but blame the gutless organization that put her and the other 155 golfers here in this position. That's the travesty of this tournament. USGA officials have said, again and again and again, that they want the nation's premier event for women's golf to be about the players and the competition.
 
And still: They are the ones who failed to move the tournament from a country club owned by a politician who bragged about sexual assault as revealed during the presidential campaign last fall. As a result, they are the ones who assured that Donald Trump's presence would swallow this tournament whole this week whether or not he decided to attend.

*****

Of course he's coming. This is the shining moment for his golf empire, a chance to showcase the club he built to the world. This is a chance to be showered with the kind of positive attention he craves, with no nasty questions about Russian interference in the election.
 
And, besides, it's the weekend. 

*****

Read it all at: http://www.nj.com/sports/index.ssf/2017/07/usga_has_put_the_golfers_in_an_awful_position_in_d.html



"Lord Trump's" skybox is ready!



The stand, with windows on three sides and stars-and-stripes bunting along the facade, is neatly appointed with two flat-screen TVs, a refrigerator filled with coke products, several leather chairs and -- of course -- an American flag. It is within a few yards of the tee box for the 16th hole, a tricky par-3 hole over water, and looks out at the 18th green and a fountain that appears to have the Roman god Neptune on top.



http://www.nj.com/sports/index.ssf/2017/07/donald_trump_will_have_his_own_skybox_at_the_us_wo.html#incart_river_home

[zipplewrath]

1. they probably voted for him

You realize many of those golfers probably voted for him. It's hard to know, because most guard their politics closely, but you might be surprised how many of them voted for him.

[SweetieD]

2. You are right. I'm sure most are Trump supporters.

[PJMcK]

4. On the men's tour

Last fall before the election, Golf Digest did an informal and anonymous poll of 200 or so of the male professional golfers and found they were supported Trump something lie 80%-20%.

Many professional golfers grow up in country clubs surrounded by Republicans.

Nonetheless, the USGA made a huge mistake having the Women's Open at a Trump course.

[yallerdawg]

5. When Trump shows up - and the whole world knows where he is and what he's doing...

who knows what will happen?

Like every 'employee' looking for a 'paycheck,' it gets real complicated.

At least one of the women golfers strongly suggested Trump should stay away.

This will be televised on Fox Sports Thursday and Friday, and Fox on Saturday and Sunday.

Millions can get to seething over the next four days!

[Hokie]

3. Love to see the players walk off en masse nt

[yallerdawg]

6. It's a tough choice.

Putting your livelihood on the line - who can foresee the repercussions?

But - Christ! - if they all walked off together? - that would be a MESSAGE!

[Blue_true]

7. These events are planned about a decade out.

The USGA and the club sign contracts. Given Trump's propensity to sue, the USGA is in a tough spot. The President of the organization that ran it during the Nineties worked a policy where USGA events were increasingly held at top public facilities. Looks like the regime ten years back abandoned that policy. The public course policy was done because of private clubs barring minorities and Jewish people.