DORAL, Fla. — The PGA Tour returns after 10 years to Trump National Doral for a $20 million signature event, but a large gold statue of President Donald Trump is stealing the spotlight.

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According to Golfweek, the statue stands 15 feet tall and was installed at the resort earlier this month ahead of the Cadillac Championship.

The outlet reports that the statue was created by artist Alan Cottrill and commissioned by a cryptocurrency group ($PATRIOT).

It depicts the president raising one fist into the air.

Five players from the top 15 in the world will be sitting out for the event. That includes Masters champion Rory McIlroy.

Adam Scott won the last PGA Tour event at Doral in 2016 when it was a World Golf Championship. Only nine other players from that WGC are in the field.

This is the latest start for the course owned by Trump. Doral hosted a LIV Golf event from 2022 through 2025.

Beyond the buzz, the focus shifts to the tournament itself, which marks the PGA Tour’s return to Doral after a decade away. The Cadillac Championship is the only new event on this year’s schedule and has been elevated to signature status, featuring a large purse and a field of 72 players.

Ten of the top 15 golfers in the world are expected to compete, including world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.

Adam Scott, who won the last PGA Tour event at Doral in 2016, also returns.

“Good memories for me, obviously winning the last time we were here, but always enjoyed playing this golf course,” Scott said. “It’s a challenge.”

Known as the Blue Monster, the course is famous for its water hazards and challenging South Florida winds.

Jhonattan Vegas also emphasized the course’s difficulty.

“The weather, the wind picks up and the weather gets right, it’s going to be an incredible test,”he said.

“It’s a big golf course, very penal, so you’ve got to strike it well,” Scott added. “Just demanding tee to green with a little wind blowing, it’s going to ask a lot of questions of everyone all week.”

Practice rounds continue through midweek, with fans set to enter the course as tournament play approaches.

Organizers say the combination of elite competition and enhanced fan experiences is expected to make the event one of the standout stops in South Florida this weekend.

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