President Donald Trump has played golf with some of the biggest names the sport has produced, but when asked to assemble his dream foursome, he saved the most personal choice for last.
During an interview on Fox News’ “Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy,” Trump was asked to name the people he would choose if he could play a round of golf with anybody.
His first two selections were hardly surprising.
Trump Picks Two Golf Legends
“I love Jack, okay, Jack is great,” Trump said, referring to Jack Nicklaus, whose 18 major championships remain the men’s record.
Trump then added Tiger Woods, another golfer he has known and played with over the years.
“I happen to love Tiger; Tiger is a great guy,” Trump said.
Nicklaus and Woods would certainly make for a formidable pairing. Between them, the two golf legends have won 33 major championships, with Woods sitting behind Nicklaus with 15.
Trump’s connection with Woods extends beyond the golf course. In 2019, during his first term in the White House, Trump awarded Woods the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The two have also been seen playing golf together.
But Trump did not use his final selection on another major champion or one of the current stars he has encountered on the course.
Instead, he chose his father, Fred Trump.
Trump’s Final Choice Gets Personal
“It’s funny, I played one round of golf with my father, and he never played golf before,” Trump told Gowdy.
Trump said one detail from that round remained in his memory: his father’s natural swing.
“And I remember how good his swing was,” Trump said. “I think my father had a lot of — I’d love to have my father back. I’d love to have my father back.”
Fred Trump, a New York real estate developer, died in 1999 at the age of 93.
The answer added an unexpectedly personal element to a question that could easily have produced a list full of famous golfers. Trump has no shortage of accomplished players to choose from, given his time in the sport.
During the interview, he mentioned playing with professionals including Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Scottie Scheffler.
Trump’s Long History With Golf
Golf has remained a significant part of Trump’s life for years. He owns multiple golf properties and has frequently played while in and out of office. He has also claimed numerous club championship victories.
His courses have also become venues for major professional events. Both PGA Tour and LIV Golf competitions have been held at Trump properties in recent years, including courses in the Washington, D.C., area, Bedminster, New Jersey, and Trump National Doral outside Miami.
Given that history, Trump could have filled his hypothetical foursome with championship golfers from almost any generation. He went with arguably the two most accomplished men’s major champions in history for his first selections.
The final spot, however, had nothing to do with trophies, rankings or professional golf.
For Trump, the dream round would feature Nicklaus, Woods, and one more chance to play alongside his father.
