Trump's Turnberry course is 'worthy' of hosting the British Open, says DeChambeau

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland (AP) — American golfer Bryson DeChambeau appears to have a good relationship with President Donald Trump, with the pair once enjoying a round that has been watched more than 15 million times on YouTube.

Now the two-time major champion is doing some British Open campaigning for him.

DeChambeau, one of golf's biggest names, said on Friday he was all for Trump’s Turnberry course in Scotland hosting an Open Championship for the first time since 2009.

“I look at it as a golf course,” DeChambeau said of the stunning links venue along the Ayrshire coast. “It’s one of the best golf courses in the world, and I’d love for it to be a part of the rotation.

“Albeit I haven’t played it, I’ve heard so many great things about it, and anytime you get to play a special historical golf course like that, I think it’s worthy of it, for sure.”

Turnberry is still on the R&A’s 10-venue British Open rotation but isn’t playing an active role. It last hosted the Open 16 years ago — before Trump bought the resort — when a 59-year-old Tom Watson made bogey on the 72nd hole and wound up losing a playoff to Stewart Cink.

Speaking ahead of the Open being played this week at Royal Portrush, R&A chief executive Mark Darbon said transportation and other issues had to be addressed before Turnberry got its hands on the oldest major championship again.

Darbon said the R&A met with Eric Trump and other leaders of Trump Golf a few months ago regarding the “big logistical challenges” facing Turnberry, and that the talks had been constructive.

DeChambeau believes Trump would make Turnberry a special Open venue.

“He’d still probably respect the R&A and what they’re trying to accomplish,” DeChambeau said. “I can’t speak on his behalf, but what I can say is knowing him, he’ll do his best of a job as he possibly can.”

DeChambeau's relationship with Trump is such that he joined him on stage at an election party in Florida in November before Trump was declared president again.

DeChambeau also had a round of golf with Trump and some short-game practice on the South Lawn of the White House a few months ago.

So what of his audience with Trump around this time last year, when they attempted to break 50 off the forward tees at the president’s Bedminster Golf Club in New Jersey using the scramble format? It went on YouTube and was a huge success.

“Got like 15 million views or something,” DeChambeau said. “It was fun.”

DeChambeau was speaking after shooting 6-under 65 in the second round of the Open at Royal Portrush in a bid to make the cut, having opened with a 78.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

President Donald Trump speaks during a ceremony to sign the "Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act," in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, July 16, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Bryson DeChambeau of the United States play off the 1st tee during the second round of the British Open golf championship at the Royal Portrush Golf Club, Northern Ireland, Friday, July 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

Bryson DeChambeau of the United States acknowledges the crowd on the 3rd green during the first round of the British Open golf championship at the Royal Portrush Golf Club, Northern Ireland, Thursday, July 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

MEXICO CITY (AP) — A strong earthquake rattled southern and central Mexico on Friday, interrupting President Claudia Sheinbaum ’s first press briefing of the new year as seismic alarms sounded and leaving at least two people dead.

The earthquake had a magnitude of 6.5 and its epicenter was near the town of San Marcos in the southern state of Guerrero near the Pacific coast resort of Acapulco, according to Mexico ’s national seismological agency. There were more than 500 aftershocks.

The state’s civil defense agency reported various landslides around Acapulco and on other highways in the state.

Guerrero Gov. Evelyn Salgado said that a 50-year-old woman living in a small community near the epicenter died when her home collapsed. Authorities also said that a hospital in Chilpancingo, Guerrero's capital, suffered major structural damage and various patients were evacuated.

Residents and tourists in Mexico City and Acapulco rushed into the streets when the shaking began. Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada said that one person died after suffering an apparent medical emergency followed by a fall while evacuating a building.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake occurred at a depth of 21.7 miles (35 kilometers), 2.5 miles north-northwest of Rancho Viejo, Guerrero, which is in the mountains about 57 miles northeast of Acapulco.

Sheinbaum resumed her press briefing a short time after the quake.

José Raymundo Díaz Taboada, a doctor and human rights defender who lives on one of the peaks ringing Acapulco, said he heard a strong rumble noise and all the neighborhood dogs began barking.

“In that moment the seismic alert went off on my cellphone," he said, "and then the shaking began to feel strong with a lot of noise.”

He said the shaking was lighter than in some previous quakes and he had prepared a backpack of essentials to be ready to leave as the aftershocks continued.

He said he had been unable to reach some friends who live along the Costa Chica southeast of Acapulco because communications were cut.

A view of Mexico City, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, after a magnitude 6.5 earthquake that originated in the Acapulco area. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

A view of Mexico City, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, after a magnitude 6.5 earthquake that originated in the Acapulco area. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

A couple walks their dogs after leaving their home due to an earthquake that was felt in Mexico City, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, amid a magnitude 6.5 quake that originated in the Acapulco area. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)