Allegations of Donald Trumpâs questionable golf habits have resurfacedâthis 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 coursesâ12 of them in the U.S.âand 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, othersâincluding Oscar De La Hoya and Samuel L. Jacksonâhave 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 funeralâ600 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 âhas to winâ and âwill do anything to cheat.â
Reilly says 90% of those he interviewedâincluding caddies, pros, and partnersâconfirmed Trump cheats âopenly and shamelessly.â
But one caddyâs 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 caddyâit looked destined for the hole.
Yet somehow, when they reached the green, Tiricoâs ball was nowhere near the pin. Instead, it lay 50 feet off in a bunker. Trump shrugged it off as a âlousy break.â But after the round, Trumpâs caddy pulled Tirico aside.
âYou know that shot you hit on the par 5?â the caddy said. âIt was about ten feet from the hole⌠Trump threw it into the bunker. I saw him do it.â
Despite the shocking reveal, Tirico didnât protestâand paid up quietly.
This incident, just one of many chronicled in Reillyâs book, paints a picture of a man obsessed with winning, no matter the costâeven if it means sabotaging his opponentâs best shot.