Top honour for Woods? That’s Trump to a tee
AMERICA can bestow no higher civilian award than the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Ever since the decoration was established in 1963, it has been given to some of the most distinguished people not just in the States but around the world.
War heroes and world leaders, Popes and pioneers, humanitarians and historians have all been deemed worthy by past leaders.
Each got the medal “for especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, or world peace, or cultural or other significant public or private endeavours”.
But now TS Eliot, Duke Ellington, Rosa Parks, Nelson Mandela and John F Kennedy are to have a new member joining their elite group.
For after his win last weekend at the US Masters, Tiger Woods is to be presented with the award by his sycophantic fan Donald Trump.
There is no question his victory at Augusta capped a truly remarkable comeback.
Take nothing away from Woods. He achieved his fifth Masters after falling from world number one to outside the top 1,000 just two years ago.
Barely able to swing a club through chronic back pain, at one point
he thought he might never competitively again.
However, the sportsman rose from the depths of mental anguish and spiritual loss to slowly recapture his famous form.
But as his fans, including Trump, strove to find the superlatives befitting the extraordinary win, others were left mortified over how such a prestigious honour could be bestowed on someone who had been so disgraced off the course. Woods, estimated to be worth more than €700million, was the epitome of the American dream.
Raised as child, his play a single devoted father Earl, who died in May 2006, honed his skills after putting a putter in his hands at the age of two.
Six years later he began winning tournaments, defying the racists who at times banned him from the same locker room as his opponents.
At the age of 21, he became the youngest ever winner of the Masters before going on to become the youngest to lift the elusive Grand Slam of titles.
With it came fame and fortune. To everyone, including his wife Elin Nordegren and his two kids, life could not have been better.
But away from home, Woods was hiding a dark secret.
For years he had been indulging in extramarital affairs while taking part in wild sexcapades with porn stars and prostitutes. It led to an acrimonious €89million divorce.
And it was not only his wife that left him – his form did too.
The death knell of his once clean-cut image finally sounded when he was arrested for drugdriving two years ago and revealed he was hooked on prescription drugs.
People are now demanding Woods refuses to accept the Presidential Medal of Freedom from his golfing partner and pal, Trump.
The fact he is being offered one, however, speaks volumes about the kind of man the US President is.
While Woods’ comeback story is inspiring, the decision to grant him such a prestigious award demeans its value for others who have received it.
The Donald has just made that honour completely worthless. It would become the Presidential Medal of Freedom from vows, freedom from being faithful and freedom to cheat.
Perhaps Trump’s decision was because he sees so much of himself in Woods.
After all, both love playing around both on the course and off it.
What next, Stormy Daniels getting a medal too?
The decision to grant him this award demeans its value...