Watch the clip for a glimpse of the awarding ceremony.
Video credit: AFP news agency
On Monday evening President Trump awarded his golfing buddy Tiger Woods the Medal of Freedom during a ceremony at the Rose Garden.
Trump described the 43-year-old Masters champion as “one of the greatest athletes in the history of sports” with his thrilling victories, including a comeback during this year’s tournament.
The president continued: “He’s also a great person. He’s a great guy. He inspired millions of young Americans with his thrilling wire-to-wire victories. Tiger Woods is a global symbol of American excellence, devotion, and drive.”
Woods is the youngest golfer to win a Masters and the first African-American to do so. And despite severe injuries that threatened to cut short his career, in April Woods managed to win his first major tournament in 11 years.
As he was talking about his late father, Woods cried and recounted his “amazing” comeback and the “unbelievable experience” of getting the award in front of friends and family, including his new girlfriend Erica Herman.
“You’ve seen the good and the bad, the highs and the lows, and I would not be in this position without all your help,” he said. “I’ve battled, I try to hang in there, and I’ve tried to come back and play the great game of golf again.”
The award cited Woods for his 5 Masters wins, starting in 1997 when he became the first African-American and the youngest golfer to win the title. His latest win in 2019 made him the second-oldest champ.
President Trump, an avid golfer himself, added that Woods has won 81 PGA tours, just one behind the all-time record. He also noted the Woods’ April victory had “record-setting ratings” for a Masters tournament.
“We are in the presence of a true legend, an extraordinary athlete who has transformed golf and achieved new levels of dominance,” he said.
Woods has been instrumental in boosting the popularity of Trump throughout his career.
“That’s how I originally met Tiger,” said Trump, a former real estate mogul.
Following Woods’ first Masters win in 1997, he celebrated his victory in Atlantic City at Trump’s Taj Mahal casino. The two became business partners in 2014 upon the opening of the Tiger Woods Villa at Trump’s golf club in Doral, Florida.
A torn ACL in 2008 forced Woods to take a break while the following year he admitted to infidelity which resulted in a messy divorce with his wife, Swedish model Elin Nordegren, in 2010.
Florida police officers arrested Woods for drunk driving in 2017. Five types of drugs were found in his system but Woods explained that he had over medicated because of back pain.
“He’s got a great memory, this guy. And he remembers the good stuff. Not the bad. We don’t want to – we just, what you did there was amazing,” said the president while hinting at the athlete’s bumpy years.
He added that Woods “fought through the terrible pain, and he fought all the way back to the summit of golf” en route to winning the PGA championship 10 years later.
Woods delivered a victory that was one for the books last month with “one of the most incredible comebacks that golf or any sport has ever seen,” Trump recounted on Monday.
“Tiger was back on top and won his first major in 11 years, and that was some major, with record-setting television,” he said.
Shortly after the surprise victory, Trump told Woods he would be awarded the Medal of Freedom.
The president praised Woods for “pushing boundaries, defying limits and always striving for greatness” that perfectly embodies the American spirit.
“Tiger, we are inspired by everything you have become and attained, the job you have done is incredible: your spectacular achievements on the golf course, your triumph over physical adversity, and your relentless will to win, win, win,” he said.
He added that Woods is a person “whose tenacity, willpower and unrelenting drive” inspired everyone.
“Congratulations again on your amazing comeback and your amazing life. And for giving sports fans everywhere a lifetime of memories. We can’t wait to see what’s next Tiger. It’s going to be good. We know that it’s going to be good because there are no winners like you.”
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