Overview
- The PGA Tour announced late Saturday that President Donald Trump accepted its invitation to serve as Honorary Chairman and plans to attend the Presidents Cup at Medinah Country Club from Sept. 24–27.
- Tour CEO Brian Rolapp said the appointment follows a long practice of engaging heads of state to boost the tournament’s international profile and publicity.
- This will be Trump’s second time in the role after 2017 at Liberty National, and Presidents Cup organizers have named Brandt Snedeker and Geoff Ogilvy as the U.S. and International captains.
- Coverage split along partisan lines, with conservative outlets celebrating the appointment and some commentators and liberal outlets criticizing the timing as politically sensitive ahead of the midterm elections.
- Organizers expect higher attention and ticket demand from Trump’s involvement, which could affect security, local logistics and the tournament’s charitable fundraising that benefits players’ chosen causes.