While efforts to bring the Open Championship back to Turnberry remain elusive for President Trump, his Aberdeenshire course is preparing for its inaugural DP World Tour event this August.

A finalized agreement is in place to hold a tournament with a total purse of approximately £2.25 million at Trump International Scotland, with an official announcement expected in the coming weeks.

This development is expected to provide a significant economic boost for Trump, as his course, which opened in 2012, has reported its 11th consecutive annual loss, with a pre-tax deficit of £1.4 million for 2023 revealed in October. Despite being frequently listed among the top 30 golf courses in the UK, the prestige associated with hosting a DP World Tour event is anticipated to attract more visitors.

This marks the first occasion that the former European Tour will conduct a regular event at a Trump-owned course in Europe, following last year’s Staysure PGA Seniors Championship, which caters to players aged 50 and above.

The tournament is scheduled to take place from August 7-10. However, a star-studded lineup may be unlikely due to scheduling conflicts with the FedEx St Jude Championship and a LIV Golf event in Chicago. As a result, Bryson DeChambeau, who claimed his first US Open title in 2020 at one of Trump’s resorts, will also be unavailable.

Despite this, organizers are still optimistic about a robust turnout, considering there are only five other DP World Tour events—including the Open—this season in the UK. Presently, the circuit schedule refers to the open spot simply as “European Event” following the cancellation of the Czech Masters due to the unavailability of a suitable venue.

The agreement, first reported by Golf Digest last month, comes at a time when Trump has been actively seeking to mediate a resolution between the PGA Tour and the Saudi-backed LIV Golf, having engaged in discussions with notable figures like Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy concerning the future of the sport.

Trump has leveraged the current golfing divide by hosting LIV events at his courses in locations such as Washington DC, Miami, and Bedminster. However, none of his venues are presently on the PGA Tour schedule, and turmoil during his first term as president hindered his chances of hosting one of golf’s four major tournaments.

Following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots, the PGA of America rescinded the 2022 PGA Championship from Trump Bedminster, stating it would be detrimental to their brand and potentially threaten the organization’s operational capabilities. This was set to be the first men’s major held at one of Trump’s courses and marked a significant setback. Additionally, no women’s major has taken place at a Trump property since 2017, during his presidency, when his presence at the US Open led to protests.

The R&A has been hesitant to consider returning the Open to Turnberry in recent years, emphasizing that the focus should remain on the game itself. Recently, Mark Darbon, who became chief executive in July, reiterated this perspective. There have been inquiries from senior officials in Whitehall about hosting the tournament at the Ayrshire venue in 2028, following multiple requests from Trump. King Charles also acknowledged Turnberry’s significance to Trump in a written letter this past February, inviting him to meet at Dumfries House or Balmoral.

While Darbon praised Turnberry as a “wonderful golf course” that has improved due to £200 million in upgrades since Trump acquired it in 2014, the lack of adequate rail, road, and accommodation infrastructure poses a considerable challenge.

The R&A relies on the Open as a primary source of revenue, funding back into the sport, and thus prioritizes venues that can ensure maximum attendance. For instance, Royal Portrush anticipates around 278,000 spectators this summer, whereas only about 120,000 tickets were sold at Turnberry in 2009.