Tiger Woods took some time to play golf with former President Donald Trump in South Florida as he gets ready to make his eagerly awaited comeback to the PGA Tour.
The White House has confirmed several reports that Woods and Trump teed off Sunday morning at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach. Woods will play in his first official PGA Tour event since The Open at Torrey Pines in a few days after the golf outing.
Trump is anticipated to add another high-profile event to his schedule later this evening when he attends the Super Bowl in New Orleans.
Woods, who has won eight times at Torrey Pines in his career, including the storied 2008 U.S. Open, will go to San Diego for the Genesis Invitational the following week. Due to the recent Palisades fire, the tournament was rescheduled from its original location at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles to Torrey’s South Course. Since the Masters in April of last year, Woods has not finished a 72-hole tournament.
The name of the golf legend has also come up recently in relation to the ongoing talks between the Saudi Public Investment Fund and the PGA Tour. Trump met with player director Adam Scott and PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan last week in Washington, D.C., to talk about the future of professional golf. Woods’ attendance was not mentioned in the Tour’s official statement, but according to flight-tracking data, his private jet landed at Dulles Airport on Monday night before leaving for Florida early the following morning.
In a follow-up statement, the PGA Tour thanked Trump for helping to move the talks closer to a settlement. The statement said, “We are grateful that [Trump’s] leadership has helped us get closer to a final agreement, opening the door for men’s professional golf to reunite.”
Woods also shared some personal news despite his hectic schedule. He revealed on Tuesday that his mother, Kultida Woods, had died at the age of 80.
In a heartfelt statement, Woods said, “My mom was a force of nature all her own, her spirit was simply irrefutable.” She laughed and used the needle quickly. Without her, none of my personal accomplishments would have been possible. She was my biggest supporter and fan.
On social media, Woods’ longtime friend Trump offered his condolences.
“I recently learned that Kultida, Tiger Woods’ great-grandmother, passed away—she’s moved on to greener fairways!” Trump wrote. Tiger was greatly influenced by Kultida Woods, who provided him with a lot of his strength and intelligence. Melania and I offer Tiger and his amazing family our prayers and love.
Trump and Woods have played golf together several times, demonstrating their well-established friendship. In recognition of Woods’ outstanding contributions to the sport, Trump presented him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2019.
