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Former US President and business mogul Donald Trump owns many exquisite golf courses around the world. He is himself an avid golfer and has played with several prominent players. However, the business tycoon is no stranger to controversies, even in the golf world.
His dubious claims on the greens have gained notoriety. Trump became the subject of the 2019 book by sportswriter Rick Reilly: Commander in Cheat. Reilly wrote:
"Trump doesn’t just cheat at golf. He throws it, boots it, and moves it. He lies about his lies. He fudges and foozles and fluffs. At Winged Foot, where Trump is a member, the caddies got so used to seeing him kick his ball back onto the fairway they came up with a nickname for him: 'Pele'."
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With this in the background, let's take a look at the top 5 golf-related controversies of Donald Trump:
#5 When the PGA Tour angered Donald Trump
Donald Trump owns three courses in Florida: the Jupiter, West Palm Beach, and Doral. The three courses have hosted many PGA and LPGA tournaments.
However, the relationship between Trump and the PGA Tour soured when the league moved the World Golf Championship from Trump National Doral to Mexico City. This was after the tour lost Cadillac as its sponsor.
Trump made his opinions on Mexico clear when he ran his Presidential campaign. He had said:
"They are not our friend, believe me. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people."
So, the move of the World Golf Championship to Mexico angered the businessman-turned-politician.
"They’re moving it to Mexico City, which, by the way, I hope they have kidnapping insurance."
The equation between the PGA Tour and Trump further worsened when the tour moved the 2022 PGA Championship from Trump's course in Bedminster, New Jersey, to Southern Hills in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This move happened after Trump's supporters rioted at the US Capitol.
The fractured relationship between the businessman and the tour led to Trump supporting the controversial LIV Golf series that posed as a rival to the PGA Tour. Many events of the Saudi-backed league's debut season were held at Trump's golf courses. More are slated to happen at his course in its second edition as well.
#4 Donald Trump vs. Ted Virtue
Ted Virtue is the founder and CEO of MidOcean Partners, a New York-based alternative asset management firm. He had won the club championship at the West Palm Beach when Donald Trump was the President. At the time of the tournament, he was away in Singapore and had missed the event.
According to Rick Reilly and Golf.com, Trump asked Virtue for a rematch and told him he didn't really win the championship because he was out of town.
Reilly said of the incident:
"Apparently, they get to a hole with a big pond in front of the green. Both Ted and his son hit the ball on the green, but Trump hits his in the water. By the time they get to the hole, though, Trump is lining up the son’s ball. Only now it’s his ball and the caddie has switched it."
He further added:
"The son is like, 'That’s my ball!' But Trump’s caddie goes, 'No, this is the President’s ball; your ball went in the water.' … Trump makes that putt, and wins one up."
#3 "This guy cheats like a Mafia accountant" - Rick Reilly
Donald Trump was once playing in a charity event at a prestigious South Florida golf course. According to a participant at the event, he was part of a foursome that included an NFL quarterback and a professional golfer.
No one hit the green on a par-3 that played more than 200 yards, including Trump, whose tee shot was clearly short.
Two of the golfers flew the green, landing their balls in a gully. As they walked back up the hill to check out the pin placement, they noticed a ball sitting a few feet away from the hole.
Apparently, Trump claimed it was his ball and that they must not have seen his tee shot land on the green. This incident and some others led Rick Reilly to tell Vox.com:
"This guy cheats like a Mafia accountant."
#2 The Mark Cuban feud
Donald Trump and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban got involved in a notorious feud in 2013. The former President had attacked Cuban's team as well as his golf. By the end of the two-day meltdown, Trump claimed that he had won yet another championship at the West Palm Beach.
He further said on social media:
"I’ve won 18 Club Championships including this weekend. @mcuban swings like a little girl with no power or talent. Mark’s a loser."
Trump now boasts of having won more than 20 club championships. Reilly once stated that the best player he knows at that level has won eight championships.
Reilly also said, in an interview with Vox that whenever Trump opens a new golf course, he plays the first club championship by himself, declares himself champion. He also has his name engraved on the wall.
"But it’s usually just him and Melania in the cart and nobody else. He just makes it up."
1) "Tough break" - Donald Trump
Donald Trump had invited football announcers and analysts Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, and Ron Jaworski to one of his courses. He partnered up with Gruden.
On one hole, Tirico hit a 3-wood about 230 yards into the green. When he arrived, the ball was about 50 feet from the pin in a bunker. Trump replied:
"Tough break."
However, Trump's caddie later told Tirico that his ball had actually landed about 10 feet from the hole but Trump threw it in the bunker.
The caddie supposedly said:
"I watched him do it."
Well, Donald Trump has a lot of golf-related controversies under his belt. On one hand, it shows his love for the sport. On the other, it is another example of his penchant for getting into controversies.
