President Donald Trump is to honour Tiger Woods with the Presidential Medal of Freedom after his ‘incredible success and comeback’ to win The Masters on Sunday, snapping an 11-year drought in major championships.
Woods has overcome back surgery, personal problems and alarming flaws in his game to triumph at Augusta on Sunday to win his 15th major, capping a sensational comeback after falling as low as 1,199th in the world rankings in 2017.
And like most, President Trump, an avid golf fan, was thrilled to witness Woods climb back to the top of the sport, announcing his plans to hand Woods the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
He Tweeted: “Spoke to @TigerWoods to congratulate him on the great victory he had in yesterday’s @TheMasters, & to inform him that because of his incredible Success & Comeback in Sports (Golf) and, more importantly, LIFE, I will be presenting him with the PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM!” Trump tweeted Monday afternoon.”
Woods underwent spinal fusion in 2017, followed by an arrest and charge for driving under the influence, for which he pleaded guilty.
Yet it sparked the beginning of his return to the pinnacle of the sport, with Woods now sitting at No 6 in the world after his latest victory.
The Medal of Freedom is awarded to those who have made ”an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavours,” according to the executive order.
Trump has given the award to athletes Alan Page, Roger Staubach, and a posthumous award to Babe Ruth.
While Woods’ foundation hopes to make the game more accessible to the youth and less privileged, Trump’s views contradict that, insisting the sport should remain for the elite.
Though Woods has previously played golf with Trump and legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus.
