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Latest > 100K sign petition to boycott US Women's Open
Mar 8th, 2017
100K sign petition to boycott US Women's Open
In protest at Trump National venue
Words: John Dean
The 2017 U.S. Women's Open will to be held at a Donald Trump course and thousands of women are not happy about it.
More than 100,000 people have now signed a petition calling on the USGA and the LPGA to move the 2017 U.S. Women's Open from Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
The petition, addressed to U.S. Golf Association CEO Mike Davis and LPGA Tour commissioner Mike Whan, states that holding the tournament at Trump National will give millions of dollars in revenue, free advertising and branding to President Donald Trump.
"Golf is a sport that carries a long history of sexism, racism and mistreatment of those with disabilities," said Shaunna Thomas, cofounder of UltraViolet, a national women's advocacy organization.
"Up until 1961, people of color were banned from participating in the PGA Tour, and the sport once banned Casey Martin, born with a leg birth defect, from using a golf cart.
"That's why it is so upsetting to see the USGA and LPGA continue to associate the sport with a racist, serial sexual abuser, who mocks people with disabilities. The USGA and LPGA need to send a clear signal to young golfers, including women, people of color and people with disabilities that it stands for inclusiveness, and move the upcoming U.S. Women's Open from Trump National Golf Course."
U.S. Senators Bob Casey, Edward Markey, and Dick Blumenthal sent a letter to Davis ast year asking that the tournament be moved because of comments Trump made during the presidential campaign, but the USGA and LPGA Tour have not relented.
Trump's presence in golf has already lead to the cancellation of the 2015 Grand Slam of golf, which was scheduled for Trump National Golf Club in Los Angeles.
And the Tour recently moved the WGC–Cadillac Championship from the Blue Monster Course at Trump National Doral to Club de Golf Chapultepec in Mexico City.
It will be interesting to see how the USGA and LPGA respond to this pressure. If it does go ahead what is for sure is that the story all week around the tournament will be about POTUS Trump and his views on women. Golf is not likely to get much of a look in from the mainstream media.
The 2017 U.S. Women's Open Tournament is scheduled for July 13-16.
Related:
Controversial new Trump executive order favours golf course owners
