Donald Trump denies asking US Ambassador to the UK to bring British Open to his Scottish golf course

Donald Trump has denied asking the US Ambassador to the UK to bring the British Open Championship to his golf resort in Turnberry, Scotland.

The president on Wednesday dismissed reports he had asked the ambassador and the New York Jets football team owner Woody Johnson to speak to UK officials about choosing his course as the site to hold the tournament. 

'I read a story about it today, and I ... no. I never spoke to Woody Johnson about doing that, no,' Trump told reporters at his White House press conference.  

Trump added: 'It is a highly respected course, one of the best in the world.'

'I read a story about it today. I never spoke to him about it.' 

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Donald Trump has denied asking the US Ambassador to the UK to bring the British Open Championship to his golf resort in Turnberry, Scotland

Trump's denial came a day after the New York Times reported Johnson had raised the prospect of hosting the tournament at the course at the president's request. 

Johnson told multiple colleagues in February 2018 Trump had asked him to see if the British government could help steer the event to Turnberry, where it has been held in the past.

Three sources told the Times Johnson was advised not to intervene by his deputy Lewis A. Lukens, who warned it would be unethical. 

But the Times said Johnson - an heir to the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical giant - felt compelled to do so and raised the idea with the secretary of state for Scotland, David Mundell.   

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The president (left) on Wednesday dismissed reports he had asked the ambassador and the New York Jets football team owner Woody Johnson (right) to speak to UK officials about choosing his course as the site to hold the tournament

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Trump plays golf at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, on July 18

Lukens raised concerns about Johnson's actions to State Department officials, the sources said. 

He was then ousted from his position by Johnson just months later. 

The British government told the Times in a statement that Johnson 'made no request of Mr. Mundell regarding the British Open or any other sporting event.' 

However the publication points out that the statement did not acknowledge whether Johnson mentioned Turnberry, which Trump took ownership of in 2014.

The allegations come as Johnson is already facing accusations he made racist and sexist comments while serving as Trump's ambassador to the Court of St. James.

CNN reported Wednesday that Johnson questioned why the black community celebrated Black History Month and asked, prior to a 2018 event, if the audience would be 'a whole bunch of black people,' a source said.  

'He's said some pretty sexist, racist' things, an unnamed diplomat told the network.  

Johnson was a major donor to Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, donating $1 million to his inauguration. 

He was then appointed ambassador in 2017 after Trump won the race for the White House. 

Before he became president, Trump repeatedly promoted his two golf resorts in Scotland and one in Ireland for tournaments. 

None of the upcoming four Opens are scheduled to take place at Turnberry.