Sports And Politics Don’t Mix

There has been a PGA Tour event played at Doral – known more recently as Trump Doral National – since 1962. Its namesake, Donald J. Trump, bought the bankrupt Doral Resort and Spa for $150 million in 2012 and restored it beautifully.

Trump’s entrance into national politics and comments he made about Mexico and Mexicans may now have come back to bite him. The PGA Tour event formerly at his Miami-area club, one of the World Golf Championships, lost its sponsor (Cadillac) and the Tour has moved the event – to Mexico City.

You can make your own joke. Or you can borrow Rory McIlroy’s. The Irish golfer and winner of three majors observed this: “It’s quite ironic we’re going to Mexico after being at Doral,” said McIlroy. “We can jump over the wall.”

Trump wasn’t laughing.

“No different than Nabisco, Carrier and so many other American companies, the PGA Tour has put profit ahead of thousands of American jobs, millions of dollars in revenue for local communities and charities and the enjoyment of hundreds of thousands of fans who make the tournament an annual tradition,” he said.

He may have to get used to this. His course in Los Angeles was dropped by the PGA of America as host of the Grand Slam of Golf last fall.

“This decision only further embodies the very reason I am running for president of the United States,” Trump said.

Sports and politics often make strange bedfellows. Some athletes take on causes and get praised or lambasted; some say nothing about social issues and get praised or lambasted.

The former Cadillac Championship has been held at Trump National Doral since 2007, with Cadillac the title sponsor since 2011. From 1999 through 2006, the tournament was held in Spain, Ireland, England as well as the U.S. Now the tournament has a seven-year deal in Mexico City.

“Cadillac has been a tremendous sponsor and Donald has been a most gracious host since taking over the property in 2013. In particular, his commitment to renovating the golf course and the overall facility at Doral was especially appreciated by the PGA Tour and its members,” PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said.

“The PGA TOUR has had a wonderful history in greater Miami and at Trump National Doral and we remain interested in returning when the time is right.”

When the time is right. Ah, nice kicker there, commish.

Sports and politics are like wives and girlfriends. You hope they never meet.

Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman