The PGA of America and Donald Trump agreed this week to remove October's Grand Slam of Golf event from Trump's Los Angeles course in light of his controversial remarks on Mexican immigrants.
"Mr. Trump does not want his friends at the PGA of America to suffer any consequences or backlash with respect to the Grand Slam of Golf," representatives for Trump said in a Tuesday statement,
The Wall Street Journal reported.
"The parties mutually agreed that it is in the best interest of all not to conduct the 2015 PGA Grand Slam of Golf at Trump National-Los Angeles," the PGA said in a coordinated statement.
Three other charity events have moved from Trump golf courses in recent weeks, including ESPN’s ESPY Celebrity Golf Classic, and L.A. Galaxy fundraiser, and a charity event hosted by singer Ricky Martin. The PGA move is the first by a major golf organization in the wake of Trump's comments.
During his presidential candidacy announcement last month, Trump said of Mexican immigrants: "They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people."
As ESPN reported, he stood by his comments on Monday, saying the Mexican government is "forcing their most unwanted people into the United States" including "criminals, drug dealers, rapists, etc."
The PGA said the 2017 Senior PGA Championship in Virginia and the 2022 PGA Championship in New Jersey — both scheduled at Trump courses — are not being moved for the time being. The LPGA said that the Women’s British Open at Trump’s Turnberry Resort in late July will still take place, as changing the venue so close to the event date would diminish it.
"I’ve been very loyal to golf," Trump said Tuesday in a telephone
interview with The New York Times. "I own 17 clubs. They all do great. We will see whether or not golf is loyal to me."