The Trump National Doral returns to the PGA Tour calendar in 2026

(AFP) The Trump National Doral golf course owned by President Donald Trump will host a PGA Tour tournament next season after a 10-season absence, tournament representatives confirmed Tuesday.

The Blue Monster at Doral was a regular stop on the PGA Tour for more than half a century, hosting an annual tournament from 1962 until 2016, when the WGC-Cadillac Championship was held.

However, the tournament was moved from Doral, in the state of Florida, after sponsor Cadillac decided not to renew its sponsorship and a replacement sponsor could not be found.

The PGA Tour circuit, which had harshly criticized Trump's 2016 presidential campaign rhetoric regarding immigrants, subsequently moved the event to Mexico, prompting a backlash from the president at the time.

Since then, Doral has hosted a stop on the LIV Golf circuit, funded by Saudi Arabia.

Starting next season, however, the course will host the Miami Championship, which will become one of the PGA Tour's nine flagship events, the elite tournaments that feature the world's best players and offer $20 million in prize money.

"We are excited to showcase the best players competing on the most iconic golf courses," PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp said in a statement announcing the 2026 schedule.

"Inspired by our players and fans, we are accelerating the evolution of the circuit and ushering in a new era of innovation on and off the course," he added.

The relationship between Trump and the PGA Tour: from tensions to agreements

PGA Tour has had a tense relationship with Trump over the past decade.

The circuit issued a statement in 2015 saying that Trump's comments about Mexican immigrants were "incompatible" with its "firm commitment to an inclusive and welcoming environment in the world of golf."

When he subsequently moved his WGC competition to Mexico for business reasons after failing to find sponsorship, Trump reacted angrily, calling it a "sad day for Miami, the United States and the golf world."

"They're moving it to Mexico City," Trump said at the time. "I hope they have kidnap insurance."

But Trump's relationship with the circuit has improved in recent years, as the U.S. leader has been involved in peace talks between PGA Tour and LIV Golf over a possible deal to unify the two rivals.