It's Turnberry's turn in 2029
It has hosted the Open championship, held last week at Royal Portrush, on four occasions. The first, in 1977, has entered golfing folklore for its extraordinary final round battle between Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson, known as The Duel in the Sun. In 2009, Watson almost became the oldest player to win a major golf championship at the age of 59, but lost in a play-off. That was the last time the Open was staged at Turnberry, even though it is considered a superior course to many others on the Royal and Ancient's rotating 10-venue list.
So when will it get the Open again? The next empty slot is 2028, but its connection to President Trump poses a security problem. Police Scotland are laying on a massive presence for his four-day visit. The R&A wants the focus to be on just the golf and believe transport connections must be improved.
The answer, surely, is to earmark 2029 or 2030 for Turnberry. Better road and rail links should be built by then. But more importantly, Mr Trump will no longer be in office and the brouhaha surrounding his presidency might have died down.
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Scottish Sun
9 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Donald Trump launches scathing rant about windmills during EU trade talks
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DONALD Trump launched a scathing rant about windmills before announcing a trade deal with the European Union this evening. The US President, 79, struck the 'biggest of all deals' following meetings with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, at Turnberry, in Ayrshire. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 President Donald Trump called wind energy a 'con job' Credit: AP 3 He went on a scathing rant about windmills and said they were 'no good' Credit: Alamy 3 It came before he announced a trade deal with the EU Credit: Getty Ms von der Leyen confirmed there would be US tariffs on goods from Europe of 15 per cent across the board. Speaking to reporters at his luxury golf resort, Mr Trump said: "We have reached a deal. It's a good deal for everybody. "It's going to bring us closer together... It's a partnership in a sense." He added: "It's great that we made a deal instead of playing games". EU chief Ursula von der Leyen also hailed it as a "huge deal", which came after "tough negotiations". However, ahead of the trade talks, the Republican chief went on a scathing rant about windmills and vowed not to let another one be built in the US. We will not allow a windmill to be built in the US. They're killing us. They're killing the beauty of our scenery, our valleys, our beautiful planes President Donald Trump At a press conference with Ms von der Leyen, he called them a "con job" and said "wind doesn't work". The American leader said: "We will not allow a windmill to be built in the US. They're killing us. "They're killing the beauty of our scenery, our valleys, our beautiful planes - and I'm not talking about aeroplanes, I'm talking about beautiful planes, beautiful areas in the US - and you look up and you see windmills all over the place. "It's a horrible thing, it's the most expensive form of energy. It's no good. Trump and EU chief von der Leyen discuss trade talks ahead of breakthrough deal "They're made in China, almost all of them, and when they start to rust and rot in eight years, you can't really turn them off, you can't bury them. "They won't let you bury the propellers, the props, because they are a certain type of fibre that doesn't go well with the land, that's what they say. "The environmentalists say you can't bury them because the fibre doesn't go well with the land. In other words, if you bury it, it will harm our soil. "The whole thing is a con job - it's very expensive, and in all fairness, Germany tried it, and wind doesn't work. "You need subsidy for wind, and energy should not need subsidy. With energy, you make money; you don't lose money." Mr Trump also claimed that windmills harm animals and said they were "very expensive". It's a horrible thing, it's the most expensive form of energy. It's no good... The whole thing is a con job... wind doesn't work President Donald Trump The US has around 1,500 wind power projects with over 70,800 wind turbines, spread across a total of 44 states, according to Inspire Clean Energy. But Mr Trump slammed them for ruining the landscape and claimed that several projects in Massachusetts are causing the death of whales in the surrounding area by "driving them loco". He added: "More importantly than that is it ruins the landscape, it kills the birds, they're noisy. "You know, you have a certain place in the Massachusetts area that over the last 20 years had one or two whales wash ashore. "And over the last short period of time, they had 18, ok, cause it's driving them loco. It's driving them crazy. "Now windmills will not come, it's not going to happen in the US. It's very expensive." 'Festival of resistance' A "FESTIVAL of resistance The protest at The White Horse Inn, Balmedie, Aberdeen, is close to the Trump International Scotland golf resort. 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You have windmills all over the place. "Some of the countries prohibit it, but... people ought to know, these windmills are very destructive. "They're environmentally- just the exact opposite, because the environmentalists, they're not really environmentalists, they're political hacks. "These are people that... they almost want to harm the country. I'm playing the best course I think in the world, Turnberry... and I look over the horizon and I see nine windmills. And I said, 'Isn't that a shame?' President Donald Trump "But you look at these beautiful landscapes all over the world... many countries have gotten smart and they will not allow it. They will not. "It is the worst form of energy, the most expensive form of energy, but windmills should not be allowed." It comes before the American leader is set to be pushed by Sir Keir Starmer on how to end the starvation of kids in Gaza. Earlier today, Mr Trump teed off on his second round in Turnberry after landing on Friday night, accompanied by a massive security team. Meanwhile, anti-Trump rallies across Scotland were mounted in Aberdeen and Edinburgh on Saturday as the American leader enjoyed a round of golf at his luxury Ayrshire resort. The US President landed in Scotland in a party mood after revealing his plans for a trade deal celebration with the Prime Minister and First Minister John Swinney. Mr Trump said: "We're going to do a little celebrating because we get along very well." He was welcomed by Scottish Secretary Ian Murray before being whisked to his luxury Turnberry resort 20 miles down the Ayrshire coast.
BBC News
10 minutes ago
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'My parents were taken hostage in Iran. I need to hear from them'
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Daily Mail
10 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Britain is ready to fight if conflict breaks out over Taiwan, says Defence Secretary John Healey
Defence Secretary John Healey has said Britain is ready to fight if conflict breaks out over Taiwan. The island nation has long been at loggerheads with China, strongly rejecting Beijing 's claim to sovereignty over it after the countries separated in the late forties. China's president Xi Jinping has previously said he would not rule out using force in the 'reunification of the motherland'. And now Mr Healey, when asked what the UK is doing to help countries like Taiwan prepare for potential Chinese escalation, has said Britain would fight in the Pacific. He was speaking on a visit to the HMS Prince of Wales, docked in the Australian city of Darwin, with the country's deputy prime minister and defence minister Richard Marles. He told The Telegraph, during the carrier group's nine-month Pacific deployment: 'If we have to fight, as we have done in the past, Australia and the UK are nations that will fight together. 'We exercise together and by exercising together and being more ready to fight, we deter better together.' These are some of the strongest words ever issued by the British government on the topic of potential engagement in any conflict in the region. The island nation has long been at loggerheads with China, strongly rejecting Beijing's claim to sovereignty over it after the countries separated in the late forties. Pictured: From second left, Mr Healey, Australian deputy prime minister and minister for defence Richard Marles, British foreign secretary David Lammy and Australian foreign minster Penny Wong on the visit to the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier today But the minister emphasised he was talking in 'general terms' - and the UK would prefer any disputes there were resolved 'peacefully' and 'diplomatically'. 'We secure peace through strength, and our strength comes from our allies', he added. Experts have previously warned an invasion of Taiwan could cause a large-scale conflict, pulling in nations from across the world. It is because the country manufactures most advanced computer chips. Mr Healey said 'threats' in the Indo-Pacific region are on the rise. It follows the Chinese military taking control of contentious reefs - and was accused of intimidating its neighbours there. The Defence Secretary's remarks also come as the HMS Prince of Wales carrier group sails with advanced F-35 fighter jets from Singapore to northern Australia for the first time in nearly 40 years. The fleet will continue on to Japan, likely coming close to Taiwan. The Defence Secretary's remarks also come as the HMS Prince of Wales carrier group (pictured on the visit today) sails with advanced F-35 fighter jets from Singapore to northern Australia for the first time in nearly 40 years Deploying the strike carrier group, which is the UK's largest of its kind, in the Pacific for nine-months shows Britain is aware of increasing threats in the region. Sending it to Darwin in particular indicates close ties between the UK and Australia - key to any potential conflict in the Indo-Pacific. Indeed, Mr Healey noted such a partnership was especially important currently, as threats in the region increase. The defence secretary emphasised the UK's interest in international rules, stability and security, as well as both freedom of the seas and navigation in the area. British officials have previously not commented on whether the UK would intervene in any conflict in the region. This is in line with the United States' stance, which has been dubbed 'strategic ambiguity' - and most other nations follow it too. Two Royal Navy patrol vessels are stationed permanently in the region. The UK government recognised, in its National Security Strategy published earlier this year: 'There is a particular risk of escalation around Taiwan.' Former defence secretary Gavin Williamson (pictured in 2019) said the UK is probably becoming more candid on its stance on the matter as threats in the Indo-Pacific increase. Former defence secretary Gavin Williamson said the UK is probably becoming more candid on its stance on the matter as threats in the Indo-Pacific increase. 'I think there's a realisation that by being completely silent it doesn't make it more or less likely', he explained. Deterrence, he added, involves making clear the consequences that will come if others act dangerously or maliciously. Mr Williamson, who led the MoD from 2017 to 2019, added it is important someone as prominent as the British defence secretary is clear actions have consequences. Former US president Joe Biden has previously broken strategic ambiguity on several occasions, saying the US would support Taiwan against China. His successor Donald Trump has not done this - but Pentagon officials are said to be preparing for conflict. His government has said it will review its membership of the AUKUS security agreement, between the US, Australia and the UK. It comes as part of Mr Trump's 'America first' approach. Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese has also not spoken out whether the nation would join the US and other allies to fight China in any conflict in the region. He refused to comment on the matter last week. The UK and Australia have made a renewed commitment to each other in recent times. The two nations signed the Geelong Treaty this weekend - a 50-year agreement cementing their commitment to the AUKUS pact. It also commits them to building a new fleet of nuclear-powered submarines. The HMS Prince of Wales anchoring in Darwin marks the first time a British carrier strike group has docked in Australia. It is also the first time a non-US carrier has taken part in Australia's annual military drills, the so-called Talisman Sabre. The event this year was the largest it has ever been. While the UK is turning more of its attention to the Indo-Pacific, Mr Healey (pictured on the visit today) confirmed there would be no change to its level of engagement with Taiwan Foreign secretary David Lammy also boarded the HMS Prince of Wales, on the same day as and just before his colleague Mr Healey. He has previously said Britain plans to undertake more freedom of navigation operations in the Taiwan Strait. Last month, a Royal Navy patrol ship, the HMS Spey, moved through the strait - which was praised by Taiwan but frowned upon by China. Britain does not comment on the future movements of its vessels. But it is thought the HMS Prince of Wales will soon also travel through the strait on its way to South Korea and Japan. While the UK is turning more of its attention to the Indo-Pacific, Mr Healey confirmed there would be no change to its level of engagement with Taiwan. Mr Williamson said Britain would likely only alter this stance if China got increasingly aggressive.
