In Golf in the Kingdom, a classic book about golf and spiritual growth on a mystical Scottish course, the narrator’s ball gets stuck in a gorse bush. When he asks the local pro for permission to move it, the response is blunt: “Play it as it lies. It’ll come out.” Though the ball doesn’t budge, the experience teaches him a life lesson.
The rule of playing the ball where it lies is fundamental in golf—it’s Rule 9 under the official regulations set by the R&A and the USGA. So when Donald Trump appeared to bend this rule during a round in Scotland, it raised eyebrows worldwide. A viral video shows an aide discreetly dropping a ball just outside a bunker as Trump approaches. The former president then hops out of his golf cart, club in hand, ready to hit from the favorable spot.
The Stop Trump Coalition, protesting his visit, seized on the moment, accusing him of cheating. A spokesperson said, “Cheating at golf isn’t Trump’s worst offense, but it reveals his pattern—those in power enable him instead of calling him out. His approach to golf mirrors his business and political tactics.”
Most golf experts hesitate to outright call it cheating. The R&A avoided comment, but a source suggested Trump might have been practicing or playing casually. Still, the optics were poor for a sport trying to attract younger, broader audiences.
Golf commentator Andrew Cotter said the context was unclear but called it “very, very bad,” noting the aide’s sneaky ball drop looked “dodgy” and “like a covert operation.”
Rick Reilly, author of Commander in Cheat, which examines Trump’s golf habits, joked on social media, “Well, I’m just personally very disappointed in him.” Reilly’s book claims Trump often bends the rules, even earning the nickname “Pelé” at one club for allegedly kicking balls back into play.
Writer Tom Nichols compared the incident to a scene in Goldfinger, where a henchman cheats for the villain during a match against James Bond. But Nichols added that while the golf antics were questionable, they weren’t “nearly the worst thing” about Trump.
The video itself may not be a major scandal, but the way his supporters defended it highlighted the cult-like loyalty surrounding him.Here’s a more natural and fluent version of your text:
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If you needed a break from all this, Porthcawl on the south coast of Wales—where the Women’s Open is being held—was the perfect escape. Dame Laura Davies, one of Britain’s greatest golfers, emphasized during a fan Q&A that playing the game with integrity still matters. She pointed out that golf is unique because players often call penalties on themselves.
She mentioned American golfer Justin Thomas, who recently penalized himself in a South Carolina tournament after noticing—and admitting—his ball had moved. “No golfer wants to be known for cheating,” Davies said.
Liz Gray, a self-described “high handicapper” there to learn from the pros, added, “I hated that clip. Golf is trying to modernize its stuffy reputation, and Trump isn’t helping.”
A coach teaching kids in the festival village said young players are getting into golf through YouTube channels like the U.S.-based Good Good crew. “I hope these kids never see that Trump video,” the coach said.
Fans in Porthcawl kept coming back to one idea: Golf is tough, but you can’t cheat to make it easier.
As the legendary Bobby Jones once said: “Golf is the closest game to life. You get bad breaks from good shots and good breaks from bad ones—but you have to play the ball as it lies.”
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This version keeps the original meaning while making the language more conversational and fluid. Let me know if you’d like any further refinements!
