The PGA of America announced on Thursday that the 2022 PGA Championship would be held at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, New Jersey.
Trump has been on the quest for a major championship for one of his numerous golf properties for several years.
It was just announced by The Telegraph last week that Trump is purchasing historic Turnberry Golf Club and Resort in Scotland. Turnberry is one of the courses The R&A uses in the rotation for the Open Championship and has hosted four Opens over the years.
Tom Watson beat Jack Nicklaus in the 1977 Open Championship, when they battled for four days in the famous ‘Duel in the Sun.’
Watson nearly made golf history, when he nearly won his sixth Open Championship at the age of 59 in 2009 at Turnberry.
Trump made big news last year with his purchase of famed Doral in Miami, FL, hired Gil Hanse to renovate the course and spent $250 million in the effort.
The WGC-Cadillac Championship was held on the updated Trump Doral and provided thrills and chills for the golfers and golf fans.
The success of Trump’s staff in staging the WGC-Cadillac at Doral obviously contributed to the decision by the PGA of America.
Bedminster is a great golf facility and Trump hired Tom Fazio to design the 36 holes and spent millions improving the facility. The biggest consideration, however, is its close proximity to New York.
The ‘Big Apple’ is one of the largest sports markets in the world and will guarantee the 2022 PGA Championship a huge stage to reach not only golf fans, but sports fans in general.
Being the final major championship every year, the PGA Championship is sometimes overlooked. PGA President Ted Bishop increased the total purse to $10 million for the 2014 tournament, matching the Players Championship. It is $2 million more than the Masters, U.S. Open and Open Championship offer.
Donald Trump is one of the highest profile personalities in golf today. His combination with the PGA of America to host the 2022 PGA Championship should be a win-win for the PGA and golf.