Allegations of Donald Trump’s questionable golf habits have resurfaced—this time, from someone with a front-row seat: his own caddy.
Rumors of Trump bending the rules on the fairway have long circulated, but they reached new heights after a bombshell claim from his former caddy, who reportedly witnessed the former President cheat right in front of stunned guests.
A passionate golfer, Trump, 78, owns 16 golf courses—12 of them in the U.S.—and famously spent 18 of his first 69 days in office at his properties, costing taxpayers over $26 million. While his game has been praised by several PGA players, others—including Oscar De La Hoya and Samuel L. Jackson—have accused him of frequent rule-breaking.
Perhaps the most outrageous example came in 2023, when Trump declared himself the winner of a tournament he missed half of due to a funeral—600 miles away.
The book Commander in Cheat: How Golf Explains Trump by former Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly dives deep into these allegations, citing numerous sources who claim Trump “has to win” and “will do anything to cheat.”
Reilly says 90% of those he interviewed—including caddies, pros, and partners—confirmed Trump cheats “openly and shamelessly.”
But one caddy’s story stands out.
During a round with football legends Ron Jaworski, Jon Gruden, and sportscaster Mike Tirico, something bizarre happened. Tirico hit a stellar shot that drew cheers and a high five from his caddy—it looked destined for the hole.
Yet somehow, when they reached the green, Tirico’s ball was nowhere near the pin. Instead, it lay 50 feet off in a bunker. Trump shrugged it off as a “lousy break.” But after the round, Trump’s caddy pulled Tirico aside.
“You know that shot you hit on the par 5?” the caddy said. “It was about ten feet from the hole… Trump threw it into the bunker. I saw him do it.”
Despite the shocking reveal, Tirico didn’t protest—and paid up quietly.
This incident, just one of many chronicled in Reilly’s book, paints a picture of a man obsessed with winning, no matter the cost—even if it means sabotaging his opponent’s best shot.
