Donald Trump recalled the tips and tricks golf legend Gary Player gave him to improve his game.
The former president, 78, took on US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau in a YouTube challenge posted on Tuesday.
As Trump and the LIV golfer embarked on their mission to score a sub-50 round, the presidential candidate revealed that Player had given him advice on how to better navigate the fairways.
Standing on the tee of a par-3 at his Bedminster course, Trump admitted that the South African golfer had once corrected a fatal mistake he made when teeing off on the shorter holes.
“President! President,” he said [Player] said — you know he’s very intense,” Trump began saying in the video recorded in the first week of July, “”What are you doing?”
Donald Trump (left) recalled the tips and tricks golf legend Gary Player (right) gave him
“Because I always put it level with the ground,” Trump continued, referring to the height of his tee pin when he hits an iron shot.
“The reason for a tee on a par three is that you have to lift it off the ground a little bit. I’ve never heard that before. I always thought that was something bad players did, all the years I’ve played.
‘I always had it level. He said, “What’s the purpose of that?”‘
Player, who has won nine majors, has played with Trump in the past, including in May at Trump International Palm Beach Golf Club.
Trump also awarded the South African the Presidential Medal of Freedom toward the end of his term in 2021.
The player was on hand at the White House alongside legendary golfer Annika Sorenstam to accept the honor, just a day after Trump urged his supporters to never accept defeat before hundreds stormed the U.S. Capitol.
Player’s acceptance of the award, especially in the tense political climate of the time, led to much criticism, including from his own son.
“I wish my dad would just & politely decline this ‘award’ right now. Toneless. In denial. Wrong!!’ Marc Player, Gary’s eldest son, tweeted in response to a story about the honor.
The former president made the revelation during a YouTube video with Bryson DeChambeau
Trump is known as an avid golfer, playing with a 2.5 handicap and reportedly playing every 6.3 days during his time in the White House.
However, in Tuesday’s video, which was recorded before the Trump assassination attempt and Biden’s decision not to run for re-election, he further revealed how good he reportedly was at golf.
Trump claimed to have made a total of eight holes-in-ones in his life, the last time reportedly against another golf icon: Ernie Els.
Trump’s participation in DeChambeau’s “Break 50” series comes after he and President Joe Biden, who has since withdrawn from the presidential race, slid into “handicaps” during last month’s debate.
The debate spiraled out of control when the two older candidates criticized each other’s golf game after answering questions from CNN host Dana Bash about concerns about their age.
Their bickering escalated into a confrontation between Trump and Biden, 81, over their disabilities.
After the bizarre exchange of venomous remarks, DeChambeau, who won over Pinehurst No. 2, came up with a solution to finally settle the debate: golf, not the presidential election.
The former president and the American professional golfer are no strangers to each other
Biden did not accept the two-time major winner’s offer of a fairway duel with Trump. His opponent did, however, accept a round with DeChambeau, who apparently filmed the episode before Biden withdrew from the race.
During their round, Trump explained why he enjoys the traditional sport: “I just find it very relaxing.
“I play well, you know, for someone who plays as little as I do, I’ve won so many club championships. I play against guys who play all the time. I hit the ball straight. I putt well.
“It takes everything out of your head.”