Trump wins Bedminster club championship, mocks rivals as lacking talent
The US president shot a two-under-par 70 to claim the senior and super senior titles at his New Jersey course, then taunted opponents on social media.
Donald Trump won both the senior and super senior club championships at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, on Sunday, posting a two-under-par round of 70. The president shared a video of what he called the “winning shot” on his Truth Social platform, a pitch from 40–50 yards that stopped near the hole with backspin. He claimed the victory was his 40th club championship across his portfolio of courses.
“I won with a score of 70, and am so honored in that, unlike the rest of the field, I’m given very little time to practice, because I’m focused on many other things,” Trump wrote. “It’s called TALENT, and I have it, and they don’t!” The senior category is open to men aged 50 and older; the super senior category is for those 65 and older. Trump also won both titles in 2023 and the senior title in 2024.
Footage from the trophy ceremony showed Trump receiving two large trophies in front of a relatively small group of onlookers, which critics described as a meagre crowd. The modest gathering drew online commentary, though Trump himself focused on the result.
The president’s golfing prowess has long been shadowed by allegations of cheating. Sports writer Rick Reilly, in his 2019 book “Commander in Cheat,” wrote that caddies at Winged Foot—where Trump is a member—nicknamed him Pelé because they were so used to seeing him kick his ball back onto the fairway. In a separate incident last year, a video from Trump’s Turnberry course in Scotland appeared to show his caddy dropping his ball closer to the hole. Trump has denied cheating.
Senator Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally, reportedly insinuated during a 2022 grand jury testimony that the president’s caddy gives him an advantage. “Some people say you may outdrive him, but you’re not going to outdrive his caddy. It is what it is,” Graham said, according to a New York Times report earlier this year. Trump has now claimed at least 40 club championships, a tally he insists was earned fairly.
| Continental European press | 0.00 | neutral |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic / Anglosphere press | −0.60 | critical |
| Israeli press | −0.20 | neutral |
Trump won and says it himself: 'I have talent, they don't.' The sporting result is a fact, and his words are presented unfiltered.
Direct quotations from Trump's post are reproduced, avoiding commentary and letting his triumphant tone speak for itself.
The context of criticisms and allegations that often accompany Trump's victories, such as accusations of exaggeration, is omitted.
Trump denigrates opponents and boasts about a success achieved on his own course, showing arrogance and lack of sportsmanship.
Emphasis is placed on derogatory words and the fact that the tournament was held on his own property, thereby undermining the legitimacy of the triumph.
Details of the sporting performance (score of 70) and the fact that many players consider the course difficult are omitted, as well as positive reactions from supporters.
Trump wins again, but his triumph is downplayed by an ironic comparison likening him to a mafia accountant.
A humorous comparison is inserted and the private nature of the tournament is emphasized to diminish the success and show familiarity with the character.
The political context and controversies are omitted, focusing on the sporting and character aspects.
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