Tiger Woods recently spent some time playing golf with former President Donald Trump in South Florida as he prepares for his much-anticipated return to the PGA Tour.
The White House has confirmed that Woods and Trump played a round on Sunday morning at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach. Woods is set to compete in his first official PGA Tour event since The Open at Torrey Pines in just a few days after their golf outing.
Later that evening, Trump is expected to attend the Super Bowl in New Orleans, adding another notable event to his schedule.
Woods, who has won eight tournaments at Torrey Pines, including the famous 2008 U.S. Open, will head to San Diego for the Genesis Invitational the following week. This tournament was moved from its original site at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles to Torrey’s South Course due to the recent Palisades fire. Since the Masters in April of last year, Woods has not completed a 72-hole tournament.
Woods’ name has also come up in discussions about the ongoing negotiations between the Saudi Public Investment Fund and the PGA Tour. Last week, Trump met with player director Adam Scott and PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan in Washington, D.C., to discuss the future of professional golf. Although Woods’ participation was not mentioned in the Tour’s official statement, flight-tracking data shows that his private jet arrived at Dulles Airport on Monday night before heading to Florida early the next morning.
In a recent statement, the PGA Tour expressed gratitude to Trump for his role in bringing the discussions closer to a resolution. The statement mentioned, “We appreciate that [Trump’s] leadership has helped us move toward a final agreement, paving the way for men’s professional golf to come together again.”
Woods also took a moment to share some personal news amidst his busy life. On Tuesday, he announced that his mother, Kultida Woods, had passed away at the age of 80.
In a touching message, Woods said, “My mom was a powerful force, and her spirit was undeniable.” She laughed and worked quickly. Without her support, I wouldn’t have achieved any of my personal successes. She was my greatest supporter and fan.
On social media, Trump, a longtime friend of Woods, expressed his sympathy.
“I just found out that Kultida, Tiger Woods’ great-grandmother, has passed away—she’s moved on to greener fairways!” Trump wrote. Tiger was deeply influenced by Kultida Woods, who gave him much of his strength and wisdom. Melania and I send our prayers and love to Tiger and his wonderful family.
Trump and Woods have played golf together many times, showcasing their strong friendship. In 2019, Trump honored Woods with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his remarkable contributions to the sport.