President Trump will award golfer Tiger Woods the Presidential Medal of Freedom next Monday at a White House Rose Garden ceremony, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said.
Woods won the Masters last month for his fifth green jacket, his 15th major championship overall and his first major in 11 years. The former No. 1-ranked golfer in the world overcame personal and professional adversity — years of his career interrupted by knee and back injuries and an embarrassing infidelity scandal — to make his comeback.
Trump tweeted a congratulatory message to Woods after the Masters and said he wanted to award him the medal, the highest civilian honor in the U.S, because of his “incredible Success & Comeback in Sports (Golf) and, more importantly, LIFE.”
Trump, who owns several golf clubs, is himself an avid golfer and has played many rounds with Woods before. Trump and Woods played with Jack Nicklaus at Trump’s Jupiter, Florida golf resort in February.
In August, Woods faced questions about his relationship with Trump after finishing a tournament. The golfer did not reveal whether he supports the Trump administration’s policies.
“Well, he’s the president of the United States,” Woods said at the time. “You have to respect the office. No matter who is in the office, you may like, dislike personality or the politics, but we all must respect the office.”
Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Charlie Sifford are the only other golfers to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Presidents have wide discretion over whom to award the medal.
⦁ Based in part on wire service reports.
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