President of the United States of America and keen golf fan Donald Trump has attracted criticism for his apparent willingness to accept a rather large gift from Qatar.
Trump is in line for a luxury Boeing 747 from the State of Qatar to serve as an upgrade to Air Force One.
Addressing the matter in a press conference this week, Trump turned to golf – as a terrific golfer, he often does – to provide justification for accepting the $400 million aircraft.
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According to the Toronto Sun, Trump told the gathered political press that saying no to a $400m jumbo jet from Qatar is akin to declining a gimme on the green.
"There was an old golfer named Sam Snead. Did you ever hear of him?" said the leader of the free world.
"He was a great golfer, he won 82 tournaments, and he had a motto. 'When they give you a putt, you say, ‘Thank you very much.' You pick up your ball, and you walk to the next hole.'
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"A lot of people are stupid. They say, 'No, no, I insist on putting it.' Then they putt it, they miss it and their partner gets angry at them."
As the Sun's Jon McCarthy points out, Trump's eagerness to portray 'stupid' people who turn down favours as saps and losers distracted him from the facts.
McCarthy explains: "Shockingly, there are a few things wrong with Trump’s analogy. The first being the obvious one that a $400-million jet is slightly different than a one-foot putt.
"The second being that once a putt is given in golf, it’s given, period, end of story. It doesn’t matter if you decide to try the putt and miss it. So the 'stupid people' in Trump’s mind that 'insist on putting it' aren’t costing them or their partner anything should they miss. Unless they are playing against Trump, perhaps."
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Snead did indeed win 82 PGA Tour events including no fewer than seven majors.
In 1942, 1949 and 1951, Snead was the winner of the PGA Championship, which will take place for the 107th time this weekend.
The second golf major of the year will be hosted for the second time by the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Topics: Golf, Donald Trump
Chris Nee