Tiger Woods was put in an awkward spot by Donald Trump during a visit to the White House alongside PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and player director Adam Scott.
Trump, a keen golfer, has made no secret of his desire to broker a peace deal between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. Woods, Monahan and Scott were invited to the White House on Thursday for talks regarding a potential solution.
Speaking at a Black History Month reception later in the day, Trump introduced the trio by saying: “These are the best people. [We have] Tiger and we have Adam Scott here also, winner of the Masters and one of the greatest golfers in the world.
“I’ve always tried to swing just like Adam but it never worked out that way. I just want to thank Adam and Tiger and the commissioner Jay. Thank you very much for being here. We’ve had some interesting discussions.”
Switching his focus to Woods, who looked sheepish on the stage, Trump put him on the spot by urging him to speak. He asked: “Do you want to say a couple of words?”
Woods appeared visibly nervous and rejected Trump’s invitation, simply putting his hands up and shaking his head. “He’s much more comfortable [on the golf course],” said Trump, before he was drowned out by chants of: “Tiger! Tiger! Tiger!”
Woods eventually mustered up the courage to address the crowd, saying: “It’s an honour to be here. It’s an honour to be here with you, Mr President, and to be here with all of you. Thank you so much.”
It marked the second time in just over two weeks that senior PGA Tour figures had been at the White House. Woods had to leave before the meeting on February 4 because his mother died in Florida, but he played a round of golf with Trump five days later.
On the final day of last month’s Genesis Invitational, Woods revealed that ‘another meeting’ had been lined up with the aim of bringing about peace between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.
Speaking on CBS, he added: “I think that things are going to heal quickly. We’re going to get this game going in the right direction. It’s been heading in the wrong direction for a number of years.
“The fans want all of us to play together, all the top players playing together, and we’re going to make that happen.”
