Tiger Woods, sparkling off his epic comeback victory in the Masters, become awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by means of President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday. Presenting the golfing exquisite with the state’s maximum honor, Trump praised Woods’ “relentless will to win, win, win.”
“These traits encompass the American spirit of pushing obstacles, defying limits and usually striving for greatness,” the president said.
Trump congratulated Woods on “your remarkable comeback and your awesome life and for giving sports lovers an entire life of recollections.
Trump congratulated Woods on “your high-quality comeback and your extraordinary life and for giving sports fanatics an entire life of recollections.
“We can not wait to look what is subsequent, Tiger,” stated Trump, an avid golfer and owner of several golf courses round the world.
Woods, 43, choked up as he thanked his mother, his two youngsters, his girlfriend and his caddy at some stage in the ceremony in the White House Rose Garden.
“You have seen the good and the terrible, the highs and the lows,” stated Woods, who battled lower back from damage to win the Masters closing month, his first primary name since the 2008 US Open.
“My dad is now not here, but my mom is right here,” Woods said. “I love you, Mom.”
“I even have tried to hang in there and I actually have tried to return returned and play the incredible game of golf once more,” Woods said. “I have been lucky enough to have had the possibility to do it again.”
He stated his Masters victory turned into “possibly the highlight of what I have performed to date in my existence on the golf direction.
“To have had that form of revel in and in an effort to come out on pinnacle and win,” he stated.
‘Especially meritorious’
Established by John F. Kennedy in 1963, the Presidential Medal of Freedom is bestowed upon the ones who have made an “mainly meritorious” contribution to US protection or countrywide hobbies, world peace, cultural hobbies or other non-distinctive endeavors.
It has been provided to nearly 3 dozen sports figures consisting of golf legends Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, honored by president George W. Bush.
President Barack Obama gave the medal in 2014 to Charlie Sifford, the primary African American golfer to play at the PGA Tour. During his speech, Woods praised Sifford who he said turned into “like the grandpa I never had.”
“I ended up turning into so close with him that I ended up naming my son Charlie after him,” he stated. “So to have been selected as the subsequent golfer after Charlie is clearly super.”
Woods’ Masters changed into his 15th predominant title, leaving him just 3 short of the report held by using Nicklaus. Woods, a black celeb in a white-ruled game, has recommended clear of commenting on politics at some point of his profession.
He has golfed with Democratic presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama and with Republican presidents George HW Bush and Trump. He has hit the links with Trump on numerous events, maximum recently in February at the president’s route in Jupiter, Florida.
Woods become asked closing yr approximately his courting with Trump, who has been engaged in an ongoing feud with a number of African-American basketball and football stars.
“Well, I’ve recognised Donald for a number of years,” Woods said. “We’ve played golf together. We’ve had dinner together.
Woods said the essential aspect became to appreciate the office of the presidency, no matter who passed off to be occupying the White House.
“No count number who’s in the workplace, you could like, dislike personality or the politics, however all of us should appreciate the office,” Woods stated.
