The LIV Golf tour proceeds to its third event at the Bedminster this weekend. While the matches officially start on Friday, there were quite a few people on the course yesterday. And quite a number of protesters too. Indeed, few people could be more polarizing than the former United States President, Donald Trump.
The owner of the luxury Bedminster course in New Jersey, Trump participated in a pro-am competition with LIV-bound golfers and other celebrity amateurs. The public could never witness Trump playing on the greens during his time as president as the media was kept a fair distance away from the course. But on Thursday, despite having numerous millionaires on the field, every camera was focused on Trump.
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He arrived at the golf course, late, and with an army of golf carts behind him. Most of the carts were occupied in pairs, mostly his security team, while Trump traveled solo. He teamed up with major championship winners Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau, and after babbling instructions on who should stand where for the pictures, started off proceedings.
Donald Trump and his opening hit and performance at the Pro-Am competition
Trump’s opening tee, in all honesty, wasn’t that bad. It traveled a respectable distance, roughly 220 yards. The swing, however, looked lazy from the outside, which prompted an array of reactions on social media.
I’ve seen better swings by 6-year olds playing Putt Putt. #TrumpTreason
— Bev @bevdower ☮️ ✈️ 🌎 😷 & TRAVEL SOON 🌊 (@Bevdower) July 28, 2022
Did that old lady get to hit from the red tees?
— DD (@DDtch33) July 28, 2022
Not nearly as bad a swing as I was expecting!
— Lawrence Ostlere (@lawrenceostlere) July 28, 2022
He was relieved as well. “I’m glad that’s over with,” Trump said, leading to some laughs from the reporters.
After a boogie in the first hole, Trump had a brain fade moment in the second. After his tee shot, Trump ignored his teammates and drove ahead for his second shot. While it was sorted out for the particular hole, he would often end up being on the greens for his putt while his playing companions were still making their first drive.
Read More: Donald Trump Is Playing LIV Golf: But What’s His Handicap?
Trump went on to play all the holes in the course, with temperatures rising to over 90 degrees on a humid day. The burning question on everyone’s mind was Trump’s score at the end of the round. Agonizingly, we will never know. The pro-am format was a little complicated as each group selected the best tee shot among the three. The second shot was played from that spot, and the players were responsible for their ball for the rest of the hole.
All eyes were on Trump for the entire duration of the event, with the man laughing, smiling, and not having a care in the world. His third hole fell into a bunker, but Trump casually drove away to the next course, while his caddie retrieved it and used a rake to conceal any evidence of a shot.
Donald Trump’s response to reporters
In between, he was eager to chat with some news-hungry reporters. “I don’t do it for that,” Trump said when asked on how much money he earned through LIV. “They’ve been very generous, but I don’t do it for that. I do it because they’ve been great for golf.”
Trump’s appearance was making noise outside too. More than 100 people protested outside the club, protesting the “zero tolerance” immigration policies petitioned during his tenure. When pressed upon the matter, he wasn’t willing to give in. “Uh, yeah. Not exactly,” Trump responded.
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The Bedminster was scheduled to host the PGA Championships this year, but the Association moved the event after the January 6 insurrection hearings against Trump. “No. No regrets,” he said when asked if he had any regrets about missing out on a major. “I like it. That’s (the PGA’s) problem. This course blows any other course away.”
“How many holes-in-one have you had in your life?” came a rather uncontroversial question. “Seven! Seven, legitimately,” Trump replied. “People say, ‘Oh wow,’ I legitimately have had seven.”
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Guess we’ll never know. What is your opinion on Trump playing golf this week. Let us know in the comments below.
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