Forget the question of where you stand on Donald Trump politically--even though most seem to despise the man as he racks up votes and states in the Republican presidential primary.
I'm more interested in knowing if anyone understands where the PGA Tour, USGA, PGA of America and R&A stand with the man.
After all, they joined forces to condemn him last July in a strongly-worded, unprecedented Four-Of-Five Family statement. The PGA Tour continues to signal in roundabout ways that they won't mind the Doral partnership ending this week, though much of that tension may stem from philosophic course setup differences.
Upon consuming some pre-Doral writings and a well-produced TV piece (like the one from Golf Channel hosted by Gary Williams), I'm more confused than ever as to where they all stand on the man. We've heard how he's bad, he's wrong, he's divisive, he's Mussolini, he's...we still kind of like him!
I sense Golf.com's Cameron Morfit has picked up this weird inconsistency, prompting a commentary calling on the tour to cut ties with Trump:
It was only two years ago that the PGA of America swiftly fired President Ted Bishop for calling Ian Poulter a "lil girl" on social media. Compared to Trump's bombast, Bishop's slip-up seems small, but context is everything. Golf was and is in the midst of a reckoning as it deals with declining participation; the sport needs little girls to feel welcome at their local course, not wondering why one of the sport's leaders would use "lil girl" as an insult.
And in Karen Crouse's NY Times analysis of the Trump-golf relationship, there was this from the former Carter Administration member who makes political donations (not that there's anything wrong with that!).
In January, at a tour stop outside Palm Springs., the PGA commissioner, Tim Finchem, was asked about the extent of former President Bill Clinton’s involvement with the event. The Clinton Foundation was one of the sponsors, but Clinton, a tireless promoter of the tournament in recent years, was spending time on the campaign trail with his wife, Hillary Clinton, a front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination.
“We like to think that presidential politics doesn’t affect the situation here,” Finchem said.
Perhaps with an eye toward defusing any controversy here, Finchem added that the tour and its tournaments were “apolitical” and said, “We’re going to stay that way.”
In golf's leadership world, they're still taking tournaments to his courses and passing opportunities to break free. It's as if they are afraid to say goodbye. And since Mr. Trump could be the Republican nominee and America's next president, you can't blame them for wanting a line to the White House. It's a lot sexier than a line to Mara-a-Lago.
So just admit it Mssrs. Finchem, Bevacqua, Davis and Slumbers: you don't like his comments but also fear getting on Mr. Trump's bad side. Or admit you like his courses and the markets they're in because you're all about the bottom line.
But don't condemn the man and his positions, and then continue to do business with him as he doesn't soften his more controversial stances. That inconsistency brings more shame to the game than taking a traditional stance on such a divisive figure.
