Starmer raises Trump hopes of Open at Turnberry – Daily Business

Donald Trump may get some help in achieving his long-held hope that his Scottish golf courses will one day host the Open Championship.

Sir Keir Starmer is said to have instructed civil servants to hold talks with golf’s governing body, the R&A, about the event returning to Trump Turnberry.

It is seen as part of the Prime Minister attempts to rebuild relations with the US and develop a trade agreement.

President Trump is a keen golfer who is often pictured playing at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. He has has regularly raised the prospect of the Open returning to Turnberry in phone calls with Sir Keir. In 2023 he publicly declared: “Everybody wants to see the Open Championship here.”

Officials at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) have discussed the prospect with the R&A

A source close to discussions told The Times: “The government is doing everything it can to get close to Trump. One concrete thing is that DCMS have been involved in pushing for the Open to return to Trump-owned Turnberry.”

The earliest it could be hosted at Turnberry would be 2028, as the venues have already been decided until 2027.

The 800-acre Turnberry estate in Ayrshire, bought by Trump for £39.5 million in June 2014, last hosted the Open in 2009. It is among the pool of 14 links courses that have hosted the Open.

King Charles also referenced Turnberry estate in his letter offering Mr Trump a state visit to the UK this year.

However, the R&A is said to be concerned that Turnberry may not be able to handle the Open as a result of growth in attendance which has more than doubles since 2009, when 120,000 people attended. There is not the hotel capacity to cope with these figures.

A spokesman for the R&A said: “We regularly engage with government and local government regarding venues. We have explained the logistical challenges around Turnberry to the government and they are aware of the position.”

Security issues have also been raised. Seven people have been charged over vandalism at the estate’s Ailsa course by pro-Palestinian protesters last month.

Government sources insisted that decisions on tournament hosting venues were a matter for relevant bodies.