Fifteen-time major winner Tiger Woods will visit the White House next week, where he will be presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Donald Trump.
The 43-year-old, who won the Masters at Augusta in an extraordinary comeback in April, will receive the award in Washington at a White House ceremony on Monday, 6 May.
President Donald Trump revealed in a tweet last month that Woods would receive the honor following his performance at the Masters.
https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/1117843954437767168?lang=en
Tiger Woods has overcame persistent and serious injury problems—including four back operations culminating in fusion surgery in April 2017. However, these setbacks were not enough to deter him, as he won his first major title in 11 years with a one-shot victory at Augusta last month, in what has been called the “greatest comeback in sports.”
Woods got another congratulation from a President, in a tweet from Barack Obama, who said, “Congratulations, Tiger! To come back and win the Masters after all the highs and lows is a testament to excellence, grit, and determination.”
Congratulations, Tiger! To come back and win the Masters after all the highs and lows is a testament to excellence, grit, and determination.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 14, 2019
The award Woods will be receiving, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, is the highest civilian honor and was introduced by John F Kennedy in 1963. It recognises “individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the security or national interests of America, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.”
Woods is the fourth golfer to receive the accolade, after Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and the PGA Tour’s first black player, Charlie Sifford.
Billie Jean King and Michael Jordan are among other athletes to win the award.
See also: “Greatest Comeback”: Tiger Woods Wins 2019 Masters