For decades, President Donald Trump has maintained close relationships with several professional golfers, but few have offered a story as candid or as humorous as the Hall of Famer, Sir Nick Faldo. And back in June 2025, while in conversation with the Telegraph, the retired English golfer recollected an interesting incident from the 2019 Masters. 

Faldo recounted his long-running rapport with Trump, dating back to his early days in television, as he responded to the interviewer’s inquiry about his life living in America in a Trump World. The duo is pretty close, and that includes a lot of chatting on the phone. But there was one moment a few years back, when Faldo was forced to yell at the POTUS. 

The knighted golfer recalled, “So, it’s 2019 Masters. Tiger [Woods] has just won. In your ear, cameras, and everything. One of the ladies from CBS leans over to me and goes, ‘I have a call from the President of the United States for you.’ I go, ‘Oh, tell him to call me on Monday.’”

As expected, the CBS representative was left wide-eyed. And then, when Sir Nick Faldo got out of his chair, his phone rang. It was none other than Donald Trump. Faldo impersonated the POTUS and recited his words: “Nicky, how did he win this? How did he do that?” Faldo's reply? “I said, ‘Do you realize I am flipping live? I’m live on TV, do you mind?’”

Indulging further, according to Faldo, that day, Trump had called two golfers, . And Tiger Woods was the second one. The friendship between Faldo and Trump is one where either one can reach the other straight away. The golfer confessed that even if he dialed Trump right then, the POTUS would answer.

On the other hand, Trump has seldom backed away from praising his friends. And Faldo’s case was no different. 

The time when Donald Trump hyped Nick Faldo up in his rally

Back in August 2024, Faldo and his wife, Lindsay De Marco, attended one of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign rallies. Taking note of his friend’s attendance, the two-time President of the USA addressed, "This guy is a major golfer. He is a major friend of mine. One of the best ever. They knighted him in England or the UK. And he just knew how to win."

He could take people, he'd play the best players in the world, and they always folded in front of him," Trump continued. "In fact, I think I need to bring him into government 'cause we like to get other people to fold. And his nickname is Foldo (sic) because he makes everyone, but his name is Faldo.”

Trump went on to highlight Nick Faldo’s skills as a golfer. He put the spotlight on his six wins in the major championships. The Briton won the Open Championships in 1987, 1990, and 1992, and the Masters in 1989, 1990, and 1996. Apart from that, the 68-year-old amassed 36 professional victories that included 30 wins in the European Tour. 

Donald Trump confessed, “It's an honour, as a golfer. You are a piece of work. He's a tough cookie, too. You talk about a tough cookie. That's a tough cookie."

Faldo’s stories reveal a uniquely candid bond with Trump, blending humor, respect, and enduring mutual admiration. But what are your thoughts on that?

Written by

Krushna Pattnaik

Edited by

Joyita Das