President Donald Trump has been accused many times of lying -- or, at a minimum, embellishing the truth to the point that it's not true anymore. That reputation has carried over into golf, as well, with at least a half-dozen former Trump golf partners on record as saying the 45th President has blatantly cheated in front of them in past golf rounds.
Now, add LPGA major winner and Trump friend Suzann Pettersen to the list who reportedly confirm Trump's cheating at golf.
First found by Golf.com (kudos for sniffing out the Norwegian golf beat), Pettersen is quoted as saying Trump "cheats like hell" when he plays.
"He always says he is the world's best putter. But in all the times I've played him, he's never come close to breaking 80," Pettersen is quoted as saying in a Jan. 27 piece posted to Verdens Gang, the Norwegian outlet. "But what's strange is that every time I talk to him he says he just golfed a 69, or that he set a new course record or won a club championship some place. I just laugh."
Pettersen isn't alone in that assessment. A number of previous golf partners suggested Trump's wayward drives have a magical way of ending up in the fairway. Playing partners also say Trump has a very generous self-gimme range, extending up to 8 feet in some accounts.
However, Pettersen said she was misrepresented in the VG piece, tweeting that she took issue with how her words were characterized.
Sometimes you do interviews and media will twist whatever word/ saying to make a headline! It’s shocking to see... this is what I would call #fakenews
Why would I call someone a cheat.... never!— Suzann Pettersen (@suzannpettersen) January 30, 2018
The VG reporter, Robert Simso, stood by his reporting to Golf.com and said he has a recording of the conversation with Pettersen.
Meanwhile, several recent Trump golf partners marveled at his skill. South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham said Trump shot an impressive -- if disputed publicly -- 73 in wet and windy conditions at Trump National Golf Club in Northern Virginia.