• Rick Reilly, a former Sports Illustrated and ESPN writer and bestselling author of Commander in Cheat, is a longtime critic of Trump’s golf claims.
• He accuses Donald Trump of exaggerating his golf championship wins, claiming Trump has won none despite boasting dozens.
• Viral video shows a caddie allegedly improving Trump’s ball position, fueling accusations of cheating from fans and professionals alike.
• Public reactions split sharply, with critics seeing a pattern of dishonesty, while supporters dismiss the claims as petty attacks.

Donald Trump’s golf game is once again under fire — and this time, the accusation comes with a sharp dose of sarcasm from a man who has made a career out of calling him out.

Rick Reilly, the award-winning sports journalist and former writer for Sports Illustrated and ESPN, is no stranger to the former president’s penchant for boasting about his on-course achievements. He’s even devoted an entire book to the subject — the 2019 bestseller Commander in Cheat: How Golf Explains Trump — where he chronicled, often humorously, what he claims are Trump’s repeated exaggerations, rule-bending, and outright fabrications about his golf record.

This week, Reilly pounced on a new opportunity to jab at his favorite golf target. The latest flashpoint came after Trump posted a short video on his own social media platform, Truth Social, showing himself sinking a putt. The caption? “36 Club Championships!” — an apparent update to his long-touted tally of tournament victories.

Reilly wasn’t buying it. He grabbed a still frame from Trump’s video and posted it to X (formerly Twitter) with his own biting scorecard:

• “Number of ‘championships’ he said he had last time: 24.
• Number he says he suddenly has now: 36.
• Number that his twisted ego just skipped: 11.
• Number of actual ‘championships’ he’s won: 0.
  #CommanderInCheat”

The post quickly gained traction online, drawing both laughs and outrage depending on political allegiance. Trump’s loyalists dismissed it as petty nitpicking. One MAGA supporter snapped back at Reilly with, “Stick to sports. Wtf.” Others accused the journalist of having an obsession with tearing down the former president.

A Long History of Golf Controversy

Reilly has a track record of calling out public figures for bending the rules in golf. Even former President Bill Clinton has been on the receiving end of his criticism. But with Trump, the claims have taken on a life of their own.

In Commander in Cheat, Reilly detailed what he says he witnessed firsthand, along with testimony from more than 100 people in the golf world — from professional players to caddies. The book portrays Trump as a man who treats golf like a personal branding exercise, embellishing scores, inflating the value of his courses, and occasionally enlisting others — including Secret Service agents — to give him a leg up.

According to the book’s summary, Trump allegedly “cheats, lies about his scores (the ‘Trump Bump’), tells whoppers about the rank and worth of his courses, and tramples on the game’s etiquette — sometimes literally, by driving his cart on the greens.”

The release made waves in 2019, becoming a New York Times bestseller and giving Reilly a platform to needle Trump whenever a new golf story surfaced.

Viral Video Fuels Fresh Skepticism

Reilly’s latest post landed just a week and a half after a separate incident reignited chatter about Trump’s honesty on the course. A grainy but damning video, apparently taken from inside a building at the Trump-owned Turnberry golf resort in Scotland, appeared to show a caddie discreetly “improving” the president’s position.

The footage shows Trump pulling up in a golf cart to the left of the fairway, a tricky bunker lying between him and the green, with wispy rough nearby. Two caddies stroll past, but one slows, bends slightly, and drops a ball right in front of where Trump is headed. Moments later, Trump climbs out of the cart, club in hand, and approaches the conveniently placed ball. The clip cuts out before he swings, leaving viewers to draw their own conclusions.

The internet had a field day. “Who needs a foot wedge when you have a personal ball dropper???” one X user joked. Another quipped, “Him and Kim Jong Un would be INSANE scramble partners.” A PGA professional chimed in with, “Such a perfect metaphor for our Commander-in-Cheat.”

Even those less politically charged found humor in the scene. “Wild… Looks like I need these fellas as caddies with the way I hit it anymore,” one commenter laughed.

Not the Only Celebrity to Cry Foul

Reilly isn’t alone in accusing Trump of shady play. Earlier this year, Hollywood legend Samuel L. Jackson claimed that when he played with Trump, the then-president cheated. Asked bluntly who was the better golfer, Jackson didn’t hesitate: “Oh, I am, for sure. I don’t cheat.”

Trump fired back on social media, denying the actor’s account and even claiming the two had never shared a round. The back-and-forth fizzled quickly, but it added to the growing pile of public spats involving Trump and his golf game.

Why It Strikes a Nerve

For Trump’s critics, the golf stories are more than lighthearted gossip. They see them as part of a larger pattern — a willingness to bend reality for personal image. To them, the “36 Club Championships” claim is just another example of the same ego-driven self-promotion that has defined his career in business, entertainment, and politics.

For his supporters, however, these tales are petty distractions, nitpicking at a man who has endured relentless attacks. They argue that whether Trump fluffed a lie or dropped a ball early has little bearing on his record as a president or public figure.

Yet the emotional charge of these golf controversies can’t be denied. Golf, after all, is steeped in tradition and built on the honor system. A violation — especially from someone in such a high position — strikes at the heart of the game’s culture.

Reilly’s Ongoing Crusade

Rick Reilly seems perfectly content to keep the pressure on. His posts are laced with humor but sharpened with enough bite to keep Trump loyalists seething. With each new viral clip or boastful claim, he’s ready to pounce.

And while his critics accuse him of obsession, Reilly might argue he’s simply holding a public figure accountable — one golf swing at a time. His Commander in Cheat branding has stuck, often used by others online as shorthand for the former president’s alleged antics.

It’s unclear whether Trump’s latest “36 Club Championships” claim will ever be backed up with evidence. Requests for official scorecards or tournament records have gone unanswered, and given the nature of private club play, it’s unlikely definitive proof will surface anytime soon.