South Florida Could Feel Big Impact If PGA Breaks From Trump
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- The backlash against presidential candidate Donald Trump continues. NASCAR and the PGA seem to be distancing themselves from Trump.
NASCAR announced it will not hold its Camping World Truck Series and Xfinity Series banquet at the Trump National Doral Resort in November as it did last year.
Trump didn't seem phased, sending out a statement saying in part, "What were the losses? One NASCAR banquet in a magnificent ballroom at Trump National Doral in Miami for which I will keep their very substantial deposit and rent the ballroom to someone else that night-in other words, two fees instead of one. NASCAR has already apologized to me!"
Now, PGA of America and Trump are parting ways, both agreeing to pull the Grand Slam of Golf event out of his resort in Los Angeles.
The official PGA Tour tournaments at Trump's other resorts including the Trump Doral could be in jeopardy. The PGA Tour says only that they are continuing to monitor the situation.
Joe Hiraki, owner of Sushi Joe restaurant around the corner from the Trump Resort in Doral relies on the WGC Cadillac Championship Golf Tournament every year, for his business.
"We see a lot more tourists, and also some new faces as a customer," Hiraki told CBS4's Natalia Zea.
He worries the PGA could move that event too.
"They should keep this tournament. It's very traditional," he said.
Same goes for Doral taxi driver, Jean Severe who says he makes good money during tournament time.
"We want it, especially me. I want it," said Severe.
The PGA tour pointed out that in addition to the economic benefit and publicity the tournament brings to South Florida, it has also generated $10 million for South Florida charities. Neither PGA officials, nor Doral City officials would comment on the possibility of the Cadillac Championship tournament severing ties with Trump Doral.