Butch Harmon has backed Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Justin Rose as perfect fits for Augusta National this week but won’t ever say the same for Donald Trump. His expectation is that the US president will never gain membership.
Trump’s interest in joining the green jacketed elite has long been rumored as an extension of his obsession with golf.
But revered coach Harmon, who has known Trump for decades, emphatically rejected the possibility in a wide-ranging interview with British reporters.
Asked why Trump has never found his way into the secretive club, Harmon, 82, said: ‘I think you can answer that yourself – because he’s Trump.
‘I think he is who he is. He’s full of himself. He’s the type of person that I don’t think fits the profile of an Augusta member. I’ve known him most of my whole life, because his father was a member of Winged Foot (where Harmon’s father Claude was head professional), so 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.
Donald Trump is a golf obsessive, who has long been keen on a membership at Augusta
Many believe he will never be granted a place alongside the green jacketed elite in Georgia
‘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.’
It remains to be seen if Trump will make a surprise visit to this year’s tournament, having caused organizational bedlam with his trip to the Ryder Cup last autumn. Doubtless his presence only fueled the patriotic frenzy that spilled over into disgraceful crowd scenes across the weekend at Bethpage Black.
Since that episode, Harmon’s fellow Sky Sports pundit Ewen Murray cited that the behavior of fans in New York has hastened his decision to retire.
Harmon, who will be commentating for the broadcaster at the Masters, has now revealed that apprehension about what was to come prompted his own decision to swerve the 2025 Ryder Cup.
He said: ‘I thought the Ryder Cup was disgusting. It was embarrassing being an American. I love the Ryder Cup, it’s my favorite one to broadcast and being from New York, I had planned to work with the Sky team, but I decided to pull out for that main reason.
Butch Harmon, who has known Trump for many years, says that he ‘doesn’t fit the profile’
Trump appeared at the Ryder Cup in New York, before the atmosphere turned very ugly
‘I felt we would spend more time talking about what’s going on with the fans being unruly than we would the golf and I just didn’t feel I wanted to be part of it. Because as an American, I know those of you who have listened to me on TV, I’m very honest when I say stuff, and I was just afraid I would get a little carried away in a negative portion, so I didn’t think I would add a lot to commentary.
‘I’m disgusted with the way it was. But this is the beauty of Augusta. These are the best-behaved patrons in all of golf. I hated the way things were going at the Ryder Cup. I thought it was a terrible embarrassment for the for the United States, and let’s hope it never happens again.’
Meanwhile, Harmon has backed Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler to be favorites, despite neither man having won since Scheffler’s victory at the American Express in January. McIlroy tied for 46th at the Players Championship and withdrew the previous week with a back injury.
Harmon said: ‘They’re the number one and two players in the world, and Rory is the defending champion. The one I would also look at, who three times has been a runner up and this is his 21st Masters, is Justin Rose (who won the Farmers Insurance Open in February).
‘I think he’s playing the best he has in a long time. He just tore apart a very hard course, Torrey Pines, very easily and has gained some distance with his driver. He’s playing with a tremendous amount of confidence and as we know he has a good track record around here. So for me, I think if you’re looking for someone other than the two favorites, that’s who I would say.’
Trump plays a shot alongside his granddaughter Kai (left) in Doral, Florida
McIlroy’s challenge is arguably heightened by what is perceived as the curse of the defending champion – only Tiger Woods, Sir Nick Faldo and Jack Nicklaus have successful retained the title.
Harmon is convinced McIlroy can be the first since Woods in 2002. He said: ‘There’s more pressure on him with a chance to defend his title. But I think because he won last year and got that off his back, I don’t think he’s going to be as uptight as most people would think he was going to be. I think we’re going to see a more a more relaxed Rory there this year.
‘His game is starting to trend in a good direction. He reminds me of Tiger at that golf course. He has the ability, the way he drives the ball, to take over the golf course.
‘I think we’re going to see a Rory that doesn’t need to put the pressure on himself of trying to win this thing and get to the Grand Slam. So I think it’s going to be to his advantage, and I think he’ll be relaxed and be able to play the best of his ability.’
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