The 'Blue Monster' at Trump National Doral welcomes back PGA Tour

Trump National Doral in Miami.

Donald Trump bought it in 2012 out of bankruptcy, reportedly for $150 million, rebranded it Trump National Doral and hired architect Gil Hanse to lengthen, toughen and add water to six to 14 of the holes.

“It's called the Blue Monster for a reason,” said Adam Scott, who won the last edition of the tournament here in 2016. “It's a big golf course, very penal. The wind can blow, and that's the biggest challenge out here. So, you've got to strike it well, just demanding tee to green.”

Hanse made sure the 18th is again one of the most feared holes in golf. The fairway is narrow and serpentine, with water looming large on the left and trees on the right. There is nowhere to hide off the tee and the second shot is played to a green that is long but narrow, with the lake on the left and a bunker to the right.

Trump hasn’t just transformed the golf course. His crest is embossed in gold on everything from golf carts to water bottles. Ornate columns adorn the entrances and balconies of the refurbished villas named for golf greats such as Gary Player and Sam Snead. A two-story fountain by the putting green features stallions snorting water from their nostrils. But that was staid in comparison to the 15-foot statue of Trump that was installed on Sunday night in the space between the driving range and practice-putting green. Even pro Jason Day snapped a selfie with it.

Daniel Berger hits an approach shot under some palm trees along the ninth fairway during the third round of the 2016 Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral, aka, the Blue Monster.

The Tour pulled up stakes after Cadillac pulled out as the title sponsor in 2016, opting to move the former World Golf Championship event from Doral to Mexico City, which didn’t sit well with Trump, who was running for his first term as U.S. president at the time. In the interim, LIV Golf held events at Doral from 2022 to 25. But the Tour players are glad to be back at an iconic venue that needs them as much, if not more than they need them, as part of its plan to regain past glory. The Blue Monster is ready for another close-up.

“The 18th here was the hardest tee shot on the PGA Tour when we were (last) here, so many balls in the water. I guarantee that hole's going to play way over par. So it's a hole that you know if you make bogey you're not going to kill yourself,” said Jhonattan Vegas, whose brother Julio is a professional at the resort. “I got a feeling it's going to play a lot harder than it's played in the past … If the wind picks up and the weather gets right, it's going to be an incredible test.”

Adam Schupak is a senior writer for Golfweek, covering the PGA Tour.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Trump Doral's 'Blue Monster' golf course returns to PGA Tour