Bedminster - US President Donald Trump said on Friday he will attend the US Women's Open tournament at his New Jersey golf resort, where organiaers have already taken heat for his host role.
"Left Paris for U.S.A. Will be heading to New Jersey and attending the USWomensOpen their most important tournament, this afternoon," Trump tweeted after departing Bastille Day celebrations in France.
The third major championship of the LPGA season is being staged at Trump National in Bedminster, New Jersey, where the US Golf Association is already under fire for failing to move the richest event in women's golf over Trump's controversial remarks about women during his presidential campaign.
Protests were expected outside the facility after a group from nearby Philadelphia staged a protest at the year's first US LPGA event in Arizona.
Defending champion Brittany Lang, an American, was among the many players who would not talk about Trump in order to keep their focus on golf.
"I really don't want to answer any questions about politics," she said. "I'd love to answer stuff about golf."
Two-time major champion Brittany Lincicome said two weeks ago she hoped Trump would not attend.
"Hopefully, maybe he doesn't show up and it won't be a big debacle and it will be about us and not him," Lincicome told the Chicago Tribune.
"I don't know him. I have met him probably once. I think it will be fine. We're going to play an amazing golf course and let our clubs do the talking."
Trump has a history of making offensive remarks about women and even bragged about sexually assaulting women in a now infamous Access Hollywood video.
US star Michelle Wie, who declared on Tuesday that, "This week is about the golf," won't be on hand when Trump arrives.
She withdrew from the event on Friday before Trump announced he was attending - citing a neck injury.
Left Paris for U.S.A. Will be heading to New Jersey and attending the#USWomensOpen, their most important tournament, this afternoon.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 14, 2017