Darbon has acknowledged that UK government officials have also spoken with the R&A about the possibility of Turnberry hosting The Open.
President Trump hosted the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at the course during a visit to Scotland – the country where his mother was born – earlier this week, and called for the championship to return, calling it “the best resort in the world”.
Asked about the issue at Monday’s joint press conference, Starmer said: “The decision on The Open is not a decision for me.”
Eric Trump insisted he did not know whether his father had spoken directly to the Prime Minister about it, but claimed: “Turnberry will win the Open Championship at the right time, based on the merits of it being the greatest golf course on earth, that’s what’s going to win the day.
“I didn’t specifically talk about the championship, but I think he too realises the importance of that asset to the west coast of Scotland and, to frankly, the nation’s economy.”
He firmly rejected suggestions of the Open’s potential return to Turnberry being part of any horse-trading at a time of trade talks between the US and UK.
“That question isn’t serious,” he said. “You’re not doing a deal with the host country. You’re doing a deal with the R&A.
“I can tell you my father puts the interest of America above any golf course.”
Trump was speaking after he accompanied his father to the opening of a new 18-hole course at the Aberdeenshire resort the family also owns near Balmedie.
The Scottish government has announced that £180,000 of public money is being spent to help bring the DP World Tour’s Nexo Championship to the venue next month.
“It’s probably the last links course that will ever be built in the UK, and I truly think we have the best 36 holes anywhere in the world,” Eric Trump said.
The resort is yet to make a profit, but he added: “Here’s the good news. We don’t give a damn, right. This is our Mona Lisa. If we spent $100m and never got a penny back, it doesn’t make any difference. We wanted to do something incredible.”
The Trumps’ development of the course has also faced criticism from some local residents concerned about the impact on the environment.
In response, Eric Trump said: “We’ve done a hell of a job and for anybody to say that the Trump Organisation hasn’t brought economic development to Scotland. I mean, it’s freaking laughable, and it wasn’t always easy to tell you the truth.
“Frankly, if we weren’t as stubborn as we are, we probably would have thrown in the towel many times over.”
