Donald Trump is known as a fiery businessman, but his latest statement has taken that to a new level, as the real estate mogul is set to blow up the Doral Golf Resort course after a tournament over the weekend.
According to the Associated Press, Trump, who has embarrassed himself by going after President Obama's birth certificate and college records, said that after signing a contract last year to purchase the Doral Golf Resort, he has plans to renovate it completely. He said that after the WGC-Cadillac Championship is played on the Blue Monster course, he will demolish it for a renovation.
''They are saying that the course is in the best shape in 25 years. It's a little ironic, because we blow it up on Monday,'' Trump said.
According to the report, Trump hired architect Gil Hanse to renovate the course and that it has already gone underway, although it will not affect the tournament and that it would be a ''brand new, incredible course.''
Trump said the new course will have many new changes, including to the first hole, whici is a par-5, but will now be extended to over 600 yards and changing the 15th hole to an island green.
''We started as a renovation,'' Trump said of the course originally designed by Dick Wilson. ''And as we got more and more into it, Gil and I started to say, 'Wow, we are really making it a much bigger and I think much more magnificent course. ... We are really doing massive changes.''
Trump also said that the green on the par-3 ninth would now be along the water, while par-5 10th hole will have a tee shot over the water.
''What it does is it creates an incredible amphitheater for No. 18, No. 9, and even the tee shot on the 10th hole, which is now over the water,'' he said.
Golfer Ernie Els, who said yesterday that he wished he stopped Rory McIlroy from walking off the course at the Honda Classic, added some levity to the situation.
'Where will the fairway be? It's just water,'' Els said with a laugh.
Trump said that his changes will make the course better, because he knows better than anyone how to make things amazing and great at all times.
''One thing I've heard is that by being flat, it's a little bit hard for the spectators to see you guys play golf,'' Trump said. ''So we are creating these tremendous slopes and mounds and the rough, and I think it will be really good for the players. It will look beautiful, but it will also be very good from a practical standpoint. People will be able to stand up on these hills and see what's going on in the fairway.
Justin Rose is the defending champion at the event and said he has no beef with changes.
''By all accounts that 18th hole will not change significantly, which I think is a good thing because you still want to be able to come to Doral and recognize it as Doral,'' he said. ''But it needs to maybe get back to living up to its reputation as the Blue Monster. It's been fairly low scoring here the last few years, and I think a revamp is going to certainly do it some good.''
Tiger Woods will be looking forward to the tournament, as he has not won a WGC event in the past 10 chances. He won 15 of the first 27 events that were played at the start, but has since gone gold since winning at Firestone in 2009.
In 2011 he tied for 10th and last year he withdrew after the third round. He will be looking to finish in the top 10 and rebound from his play at the Honda Classic, where he shot only one round under par.
