Sportswriter Rick Reilly has penned what is sure to be one of golf’s most-read books… ‘Commander in Cheat: How golf explains Trump’.
These are some of the explosive topics of conversion about the current President of the USA and his game.
1. Trump doesn’t only cheat the pros
Rocker Alice Cooper and former boxer Oscar de la Hoya have previosuly spoken out, so too has actor Samuel L Jackson.
‘We clearly saw him hook a ball into a lake at Trump National [in Bedminster, New Jersey] and his caddy told him he found it,’ said the Hollywood actor.
2. Trump (and/or his caddie) goes to great lengths to find the fairway
LPGA professional Suzann Pettersen says: ‘ No matter how far into the woods he hits the ball, it’s in the middle of the fairway when we get there.’
3. Is Queen Elizabeth a pole vaulter?
Trump is reportedly quite good and has an index of 2.8; for reference 18-time major winner Jack Nicklaus now plays off a 3.4.
‘If Trump is a 2.8, Queen Elizabeth is a pole vaulter,’ says Reilly.
4. He cheats because that’s how he plays
‘He cheats at the highest level. He cheats when people are watching and he cheats when they aren’t,’ Reilly writes.
‘He cheats whether you like it or not. He cheats because that’s how he plays golf… if you’re playing golf with him, he’s going to cheat.’
5. As good as Pele
Reilly writes: ‘He kicks the ball out of the rough so many times, the caddies call him “Pele”.’
6. He’s honest off the tee (well sort of)
Jack O’Donnell worked with Donald Trump for four years as vice president of Trump Plaza Casino in Atlantic City. He recalls the experience of former colleague, the late Mark Eddis.
After Eddis’ first round with Trump, he asked: ‘So, does he improve his lie?’
Eddis response? ‘Every shot but the tee shot…’
7. He cheats because he thinks his opponents will too
An anecdote by story by Bryan Marsal, a long-time Winged Foot member.
‘I played with him once. It was a Saturday morning game. We go to the first tee and he couldn’t have been nicer. But then he said, “You see those two guys? They cheat. See me? I cheat. And I expect you to cheat because we’re going to beat those two guys today.”… So, yes, it’s true, he’s going to cheat you. But I think Donald, in his heart of hearts, believes that you’re gonna cheat him, too. So if it’s the same, if everybody’s cheating, he doesn’t see it as really cheating.’
8. He cheated against Tiger and DJ
A game featuring Trump and former PGA TOUR player turned commentator Brad Faxon vs Tiger Woods and Dustin Johnson was set up. Trump’s actions as told by Faxon:
‘On this one hole, Donald hits his second and fats it into the water. But he quickly says to me, “Hey, throw me another ball; they weren’t looking.” So I do. But he fats that one into the water, too. So he drives up and drops where he should’ve dropped the first time and hits it on the green.’
Trump would be asked what he was putting for, and instead of 7, he said four. He missed the putt that would’ve tied the hole.
9. Trump tosses balls into bunkers
Once, Trump hosted three famous ESPN football announcers — Mike Tirico (now with NBC), Jon Gruden (now the Raiders coach), and Ron (Jaws) Jaworski, the old Eagles quarterback.
‘Afterwards,’ Tirico recalls, ‘Trump’s caddy came up to me and said, “You know that shot you hit on the par 5? It was about 10 feet from the hole. Trump threw it into the bunker. I watched him do it.”.’
10. Who’s cheating really?
Trump maintains he doesn’t cheat. ‘I never touch the ball,’ he says. That’s sort of true, according to actor Anthony Anderson. ‘I’m not going to say Trump cheats. But if Trump’s caddy cheats for him, is that cheating?’
