Butch Harmon Claims Donald Trump Lacks Fit for Augusta

The Masters week unfolds, yet one prominent figure in golf is notably absent. Donald Trump, a passionate golfer and owner of prestigious golf properties, will not be seen at Augusta National this year.

Butch Harmon, a respected voice in the sport and former coach to Tiger Woods, stated that “his personality doesn’t fit” the exclusive atmosphere of Augusta. Despite Trump's significant ties to golf, including ownership of Trump Turnberry and Trump International Doral, Harmon believes the former president's character clashes with the club's esteemed membership.

“You can answer that yourself,” Harmon remarked during a media call. “Because he's Trump. He’s full of himself. I don’t think he fits the profile of an Augusta member.”

Augusta National has welcomed former presidents as members, with a cap of around 300 members. Dwight Eisenhower, for instance, has a lasting legacy at the club, with a cabin and tree named in his honor.

Harmon’s connection to Trump runs deep; he has known him for most of his life. His father, Claude Harmon, was a Masters champion in 1948 and served as head professional at Winged Foot, where Trump was a long-time member.

“What you see is what you get with him,” Harmon continued. “I don’t think his personality fits the membership at Augusta.” He added that Trump's presidency does not influence this assessment, noting that other presidents like Clinton and Obama played golf without being members.

With a storied career coaching golfers like Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Dustin Johnson, Harmon is now a prominent commentator and will contribute to Sky Sports’ coverage of The Masters this week.

Last year’s Ryder Cup was marred by unruly fan behavior, prompting Harmon to express his discontent. “I thought the Ryder Cup was disgusting,” he said, reflecting on the chaos that overshadowed the event. “It was embarrassing being an American.”

Harmon had planned to work with Sky Sports but opted out due to the atmosphere at Bethpage Black. “I felt we would spend more time discussing fan behavior than the actual golf,” he explained. “I just didn’t want to be part of it.”

In contrast, he praised Augusta for its well-behaved patrons. “This place is like a holy grail of golf in the US,” he noted. “It’s difficult to get a ticket here; the patrons are the same people who return year after year.”

“I hated how things went at the Ryder Cup,” Harmon reiterated. “It was a terrible embarrassment for the United States, and let’s hope it never happens again.”

For those eager to catch The Masters, live coverage will be available exclusively on Sky Sports and NOW starting Thursday, April 9.