Donald Trump owns a golf course in this most Latino of American metropolises.

And while the pro tour is sticking with its decision to hold the 33rd PGA Grand Slam of Golf at the Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles in October, it appears ESPN is one of the first organizations to pull a tournament from this Rancho Palos Verdes course* as a result of Trump's controversial comments on Mexican immigrants.

ESPN today announced that it's moving its annual ESPY Celebrity Golf Classic, held the day before its L.A.-based ESPYs athletic awards, to Pelican Hill Golf Club in Newport Beach. The charity event is scheduled for July 14.

The sports network sent us this statement:

We decided it was appropriate to change the venue, and are grateful for the opportunity to stage the event at Pelican Hill on short notice. This charity outing benefits the V Foundation’s Stuart Scott Memorial Cancer Research Fund, providing resources for important cancer research for minority populations, including Hispanics and African-Americans. Our decision reflects our deep feelings for our former colleague and support for inclusion of all sports fans. Diversity and inclusion are core values at ESPN and our decision also supports that commitment.

Following Trump's June 16 comments that Mexican immigrants are criminals and “rapists,” NBC Universal, Univision, Macy's, NASCAR and other brands have severed ties with the GOP presidential candidate.

Trump has stood by his remarks, and the PGA and associated golf organizations have stood by its relationship with Trump. Last year the PGA inked a deal with the real estate mogul that includes hosting the 2022 PGA Championship at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey.

In a statement, the LPGA, PGA of America, PGA Tour and USGA said Trump's feelings about Mexican immigrants “do not reflect the views of our organizations.”


However, as one of the last holdouts among major brands that have ties with Trump, the PGA now is bearing more of the brunt of anti-Trump sentiment among Latinos. The L.A.-based National Hispanic Media Coalition threatened a boycott of PGA events at Trump's courses.

After we reported the NHMC's unhappiness with the PGA, the group said that a Trump Organization attorney contacted it and threatened to sue over its advocacy.

The nonprofit said it wouldn't back down.

*CORRECTION at 6:06 p.m., Monday, July 6: Soccer's L.A. Galaxy pulled an event from Trump's course previously.

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