Our Golfer-in-Chief likely won’t be happy about this bit of news. U.S. professional golfer Harris English who is fighting for a berth on this year’s Ryder Cup team needs to earn some cred during the Scottish Open this week, and then next week’s Open Championship. The Open is commonly referred to in this country as the British Open but to the rest of the world it’s The Open Championship. Pro golfers in the modern age heavily rely on their caddies, and English’s caddy has been denied a Visa. Due to a 30 year old drug conviction. It’s almost like the United Kingdom is looking at Trump’s draconian immigration crap and sending a not so subtle message!
For those who don’t know, the game of golf originated in the UK. Scotland to be more specific and to put a fine point on it St. Andrews. The entire town is worth a visit (charming and with a world class university) but it’s literally the home of golf. Across the pond (so to speak) great pride is taken in golf being their creation. Trumpty has certainly rubbed a lot of people over there the wrong way with his actions buying some revered properties and some changes he’s made. In Scotland itself Trumpty is openly mocked and reviled. They were the ones if you recall who tagged him with the moniker ‘shitgibbon.’
Getting to the point, anyone who reads Politizoom knows the extremes to which this administration is going to deport people. Folks who have lived decades here are being kicked out for things that happened decades ago. No amount of clean, trouble free living gets them off the hook anymore. Sometimes the excuses are truly flimsy but sometimes a decades old conviction is the justification. It doesn’t matter that a person served their time and actually became a productive citizen/resident afterwards. Or even became beloved in the community. Quotas aren’t being met so by gawd round em up and deport them is how it is now.
That brings us to the matter of PGA golfer Harris English and his caddy Eric Larsen. Larsen was convicted on a drug charge decades ago and served ten years in prison. He did his time, and when he got out in 2006 kept his nose clean and built a good life. Never again got into trouble with the law. He became a caddy good enough that more than one pro golfer relied on him. In recent years he’s worked for Harris English. International travel, including to the UK hasn’t been a problem. However as we learn from The Mirror US it is now. At least when it comes to Larsen travelling to the UK at a critical time for his boss!
This has left English without his right-hand man in one of the most important stretches of the season. “I guess the United Kingdom doesn’t look highly on his past,” English said ahead of this week’s tournament in Scotland. “And apparently it’s a work in progress.”
English, Larson, and his team are working to ensure he can make a return before the trip to Royal Portrush next week, having reached out to the U.K. ambassador, Warren Stephens, while also using the help of both the PGA Tour and R&A.
“They wrote a letter. The R&A wrote a letter. The PGA Tour wrote a letter. A charity event Eric works for in the States (Operation New Hope) wrote a letter. It’s not for a lack of effort,” English added. “I think it could be sitting on someone’s desk at the government somewhere.”
A decades old conviction on a non-violent offense. Almost twenty years of clean living and gainful employment and the respect of peers, both caddies and golfers on the tour. Now all of a sudden his past becomes an issue? Sorry, but I don’t see this stance from the UK happening by accident. Not with the people who’ve weighed in with their government of Larsen’s behalf. Frankly, I think someone over there got a bug up their ass and decided if Trump wants to be a dick, then give him a taste of his own medicine using GOLF, which everyone knows Trump is obsessed with. A not so subtle message if you will.
The question is whether Trumpty tells Rubio to get involved or called the Prime Minister himself to complain how “unfair” it is to hold a twenty year old conviction against a guy who’s been a model citizen since. Oh to be in the room (on either end) of THAT phone call! Irony getting shoved up Trump’s fat butt. Alas, a well-liked and talented golfer who’s overcome some adversity is seeing himself and his caddie, his professional partner caught up in all this. Pawns. But this is the game Trumpty created. It sucks for Harris and Larsen, especially the latter because if he finds himself unable to travel internationally he’s out of a job. PGA golfers don’t only play in the U.S. and if you don’t know rely a great deal on their caddies.
Well, it’s not a major story except for Harris and Larsen. But it could blow up into something if Trumpty decides to make it into a spectacle. Which he might well do. So keep an eye out. Trumpty loves his golf. He’s butt hurt an iconic course he owns was removed from the “Rota” (the set of courses that host the Open) but this is a Ryder Cup year and it’s being played here in the states. And it all boils down to Trumpty getting a dose of his own medicine. I wonder if other countries will start following suit, and not only with golfers with blemishes in their past? What about people in other fields? An old conviction, even for a non-violent offense being used to deny a Visa. With a clear message that if our own country wants to ‘be the asshole’ then we can expect to be on the receiving end of Trump’s immigration dickishness.
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Trump will intervene only if Harris English and his caddie are big Trump supporters…and only if he believes that getting involved will make him look good.
FWIW, the long-established Professional Golfers’ Association looks down upon the upstart LIV Golf tour, which is financed by Saudi Arabia and has held events at Trump’s golf courses.
To be clear English is a PGA Tour player. NOT for LIV which despite a handful a great golfers is Professional Golf Lite. I despise the concept and hate that a few of those who jumped to LIV were once worthy of admiration. They can take their bone saw blood covered millions and shove them up their asses. I’m particularly pissed at Mickelson because as a lefthander I’d been a fan for decades. (He’s not an actual lefty like me – he just plays golf that way which is a long story) There will only be one Arnold Palmer but Mickelson was a fan favorite who did all kinds of cool stuff that only accidentally got reported. He was boneheaded at times to be sure and his total of major wins should be near or in double digits, and his epic last PGA tour win at a major no less when he was already over fifty years old had him set up to be the game’s ambassador. He thew all his legacy away. Including stuff like becoming an honorary starter at the Master’s each year someday, Captaining a Ryder Cup and President’s Cup teams and so much more.
Anyway back to English and his caddy. He currently sits at 10th in the Ryder Cup rankings. The top six are automatic qualifiers and the rest are Captain’s picks which is why it’s important to finish a season strong. The last major, the Open Championship and the FexEx Cup take on added importance. English has played well this year and won early in the year. He also has Ryder Cup experience. Having a strong finish, especially in the last major would likely cement him as a Captain’s pick but now that’s all in doubt.
The are I think about it the more I think it’s the UK, perhaps at the Royal & Ancient’s (along with the USGA they are golf’s governing bodies) quiet suggestion tsking s shot at Trump. I feel bad for Harris and Larsen because I can’t see Trumpty going hat in hand (or having Rubio do so) to the Brits and asking them to relent. If things stand, and if it affects English’s play as it might well do it will get notice. Word will get around about how the UK tweaked Trumpty’s ugly orange nose and more nations will find ways to get in their own digs.
Many countries ban the entry of convicted felons. Maybe they could make a point with the guy who has 34 of them by refusing him entry.
Scotland would without a thought but UK wouldn’t but, on the upside, T gets to view his windmills