There has been a lot written about Donald Trump and his golf game and I’m not here to voice any type of political opinions, however, one writer is not.
Rick Reilly, formerly of Sports Illustrated and most recently The Athletic, has a new book out called “COMMANDER IN CHEAT: How Golf Explains Trump” – which has apparently climbed the best-seller lists – and he’s looking for ways to promote it.
In an interview with the Associated Press, Riley challenged Trump to a match worth $100,000.
“Hey (President Trump)… I told this AP reporter I’d take you on for 18 holes for $100k,” Reilly wrote on Twitter. “As long as we both had rules officials with us and you don’t get to use one of your cheating caddies… you game?”
Hey @realDonaldTrump… I told this AP reporter I'd take you on for 18 holes for $100k… As long as we both had rules officials with us and you don't get to use one of your cheating caddies… You game? https://t.co/rwWSLCvnq6
— Rick Reilly (@ReillyRick) April 2, 2019
Apparently, Trump’s cheating on the course has offended Riley enough for him to say he will pony up $100k.
“In golf, he’s definitely not exonerated,” Reilly told The Associated Press. “There’s been dozens and dozens of people that can declare him guilty of cheating.”
Now look, if Reilly has 100k to throw around like that, why not at least shoot your shot?
However, at one point or another we’ve all cheated on the golf course. I’m not above telling you all that I’ve kicked a ball a few times and I don’t play it down every time I’m on the course because it’s not like I’m playing in the Masters. Of course, when I do that I am generally just out there messing around and not really keeping score or playing for money and am definitely not putting those scores in GHIN.
If money is involved, there is no cheating and there are plenty of stories that involve Trump on the course cheating. However you feel about that, is up to you and there are plenty of stories in Reilly’s book that are told by notable people stating that Trump cheated while on the course with them.
Note: I sat next to Riley in the media center at the 2018 Players Championship, and he is a nice guy.