President Donald J. Trump awarded legendary golfer Tiger Woods with the highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, during a recorded ceremony earlier this afternoon.

The president joked with Woods, his family and his golf caddy while in a rare appearance in the Rose Garden earlier this afternoon.

“For over five decades the presidential medal of freedom has been given to individuals who have made an outstanding contributions to American life, history, and culture,” said President Trump. “This evening we are in the presence of a true legend, an extraordinary athlete who has transformed golf and achieved new levels of dominance. He’s also a great person, he’s a great guy.”

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He also called Woods a “global symbol of American excellence, devotion, and drive.”

When President Trump remarked that Woods’ father, Earl Woods, was “tough,” the world class golfer joked that his mother may be even tougher.

President Trump told Woods that that his “spectacular achievements on the golf course, your triumph over physical adversity and your relentless will to win, win, win,” together “qualities embody the American spirit of pushing boundaries, defying limits and always striving for greatness.”

LIVE NOW: President Trump Presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Tiger Woods https://t.co/tqZdiXay5T

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 6, 2019

Woods is widely considered the world’s finest golfer, and recently found himself back on the golf course after suffering a debilitating injury that resulted in several surgeries from 2014 through 2017. He returned to the sport last year, winning the Tour Championship, and continued his winning streak this year when he won the 2019 Masters.

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