Trump 'doesn’t fit' at Augusta, says Tiger Woods' former coach Butch Harmon ahead of Masters
ATLANTA, GEORGIA: Donald Trump is a keen golfer and owns top-tier courses such as Trump Turnberry and Trump International Doral. However, according to coach Butch Harmon, who has worked with Tiger Woods, Trump’s personality doesn’t really suit the setting of Augusta National Golf Club.
Woods’ former coach, Harmon, said, “I just don’t think he matches the kind of personality they look for at Augusta,” when asked about the former president.
Even though Trump often appears in golf-related discussions, he is not expected to attend the iconic course in Georgia this week. Harmon also spoke about golf and the idea of Woods returning, before Woods stepped away to seek help after a DUI incident and a car crash.
Trump’s personality does not fit Augusta National, says Butch Harmon
Butch Harmon has known Trump for years. His father, Claude Harmon, a 1948 Masters winner, was the head pro at Winged Foot, where Trump was once a long-time member.
“I think you can answer that (why Trump is unlikely to be at Augusta) yourself,” Harmon said during a media call, as per The Independent.
“Because he’s Trump. He is who he is. He comes across as very self-assured.”
Augusta National Golf Club is highly exclusive, with a membership of around 300, and has welcomed influential figures over the decades. Dwight Eisenhower, for example, remains closely tied to the club, with a cabin and a tree on the course named in his honor.
Harmon added, “I’ve known Donald pretty much my whole life. What you see is what you get with him. And I don’t think his personality fits the membership at Augusta. I don’t think that (being president) has anything to do with it, because there’s been a lot of other presidents who played golf and they’re not members. Clinton, Obama… they played golf. I think it’s just his personality doesn’t mix with that particular club. That’s as politically correct as I can be.”
Tiger Woods’ arrest and recovery remain in focus
Amid the discussion surrounding Trump, Harmon didn’t comment extensively on Tiger Woods' legal situation and recovery.
Woods was taken into custody on March 27 by deputies from the Martin County Sheriff’s Office on Jupiter Island in Florida after a two-vehicle crash in which his car rolled over. He was later released on $1,150 bail.
Authorities said Woods was not under the influence of alcohol but appeared impaired. Officers noted he was “sweating profusely” and had “extremely dilated” pupils, and he needed repeated instructions during an impairment test. Two hydrocodone pills were also found in his pocket.
The 50-year-old golfer entered a not-guilty plea on March 31 through his attorney, Douglas Duncan, who had also represented him in a 2017 DUI case. A judge later approved his request to seek treatment outside the country.
As the Masters approaches, attention in the golf world remains split between Augusta National’s traditions and developments surrounding one of the sport’s most prominent figures.
