Golf icon tears into Donald Trump and says he'll never become Augusta member as Masters looms

Jack Otway
Mon, 06 Apr 2026 07:59:15 +0000

Legendary golf coach Butch Harmon has declared that Donald Trump will never become a member of Augusta National, insisting the US president's character simply does not suit the exclusive club.

Speaking to British journalists ahead of this week's Masters, the 82-year-old was unequivocal in his assessment of Trump's chances of joining the green jacket elite.

"I think you can answer that yourself - because he's Trump," Harmon said.

"He's full of himself. He's the type of person that I don't think fits the profile of an Augusta member."

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The revered coach has known Trump for most of his life, as Trump's father was a member at Winged Foot, where Harmon's father Claude served as head professional.

"What you see is what you get with him. And I don't think his personality fits the membership at Augusta," Harmon added, noting that other golf-playing presidents like Clinton and Obama have also never been offered membership.

Harmon also launched a withering attack on the conduct of spectators at last autumn's Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, revealing it prompted him to withdraw from broadcasting duties.

"I thought the Ryder Cup was disgusting. It was embarrassing being an American," he said.

The veteran commentator, who will be working for Sky Sports at Augusta this week, explained he anticipated the crowd trouble and chose to step away from the New York event.

"I felt we would spend more time talking about what's going on with the fans being unruly than we would the golf and I just didn't feel I wanted to be part of it," Harmon said.

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He described the scenes as "a terrible embarrassment for the United States" and praised Augusta's patrons as "the best-behaved in all of golf."

Turning to this week's tournament, Harmon has identified the world's top two players alongside Justin Rose as his leading contenders for the green jacket.

"They're the number one and two players in the world, and Rory is the defending champion," he said of Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler, despite neither having claimed a victory since Scheffler's American Express triumph in January.

Rose, competing in his 21st Masters having finished runner-up on three occasions, has particularly caught Harmon's eye following his Farmers Insurance Open victory in February.

"I think he's playing the best he has in a long time," Harmon observed. "He just tore apart a very hard course, Torrey Pines, very easily and has gained some distance with his driver."

The Englishman's confidence and proven Augusta pedigree make him Harmon's pick beyond the obvious favourites.

McIlroy's bid to retain his title faces the historical challenge that only Tiger Woods, Sir Nick Faldo and Jack Nicklaus have successfully defended the Masters crown.

However, Harmon believes last year's breakthrough victory has lifted a weight from the Northern Irishman's shoulders.

"I think because he won last year and got that off his back, I don't think he's going to be as uptight as most people would think he was going to be," he said.

The coach drew parallels between McIlroy and Woods at Augusta, highlighting the defending champion's ability to dominate the course with his driving.

"I think we're going to see a Rory that doesn't need to put the pressure on himself of trying to win this thing and get to the Grand Slam," Harmon concluded.