The Aramco Team Series is headed to Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point in the Bronx, according to a report in The New York Times.
The New York City-owned golf course is managed by former President Donald Trump’s family business, and has agreed to host the Saudi Arabia-backed tournament in October.
A city official, who was “familiar with the matter but not authorized to publicly discuss it,” confirmed that the women’s golf tournament, part of the Aramco Team Series, was approved to be held by the Eric Adams administration.
Much like LIV Golf, the Aramco Team Series is funded by the entities associated with the Saudi government. The country has been accused of wide-ranging human rights abuses, including politically motivated killings, torture, forced disappearances and inhumane treatment of prisoners. And members of the royal family and Saudi government were accused of involvement in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and Washington Post columnist.
According to The New York Times, city officials determined that they could not “unreasonably withhold approval” for the event under the city’s contract with the Trump Organization, according to another city official who was familiar with the matter.
A Freedom of Information request filed by the Times showed that Adams, a Democrat, held at least two meetings this year to discuss a potential tournament, according to a copy of his chief of staff’s daily schedules.
LIV Golf already has held a tournament at Trump Bedminster in New Jersey and is scheduled to host another at Trump Doral in Miami in October.
The Aramco Team Series touts the sovereign wealth fund as its’ “presenting partner,” and its title sponsor, Aramco, is Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil giant.
The women’s team series previously held an event in New York last year at Glen Oaks Clubs in Nassau County. Nelly and Jessica Korda have been among the leading LPGA players to participate. At an Aramco event last week in Spain, Nelly won the individual competition while Jessica was on the winning team.
“Aramco stepped in and they are providing an opportunity for us to compete,” England’s Bronte Law said at an event near London in June. “I think that shouldn’t go unheard.”
The Aramco Team Series website includes an event in New York City scheduled for October 13 through 15, but the venue is listed as “coming soon.”
