The race to the Oval Office grew legs that no one expected when Joe Biden challenged Donald Trump to a golf match in a live debate on CNN in August 2024.
Kamala Harris might have replaced Biden as the Democrat candidate for the election, but he was still in office for the election run-in and that isn’t to say his offer of taking Trump on the fairways isn’t still for the taking.
“I’d be happy to have a driving contest with him,” Biden said in the televised argument.
“I got my handicap when I was Vice President, down to a 6 and by the way, I’m happy to play golf if you carry your own bag. Think you can do it?”
Trump, supposedly a very good golfer himself with a low single-figure handicap, accused the current President of lying about his handicap.
After the back-and-forth, Trump participated in a course vlog with Bryson DeChambeau where Trump, despite the many accusations about his dishonest antics on the golf course, holed some putts and found some fairways.
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Trump vs Biden: Who would win on the course?
So who would actually win in a golf match between Donald Trump, 78 years old, and Joe Biden who is 81 years old? The evidence certainly favours the former who owns a vast golf course portfolio that spans Ireland, Scotland, the USA, Oman and Indonesia. There are countless clips of his swing which seem competent and functional. NCG’s PGA pro Jack Backhouse even broke it down for us following his round with DeChambeau:
“Through the ball, President Donald Trump has a great extension with his hips, knees, and arms, which is brilliant for a player well into his 70s. He isn’t mobile enough to turn through without stepping through the ball, but this is recommended for senior players so that they don’t limit their speed.
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“This is a brilliant model for senior golfers as the backswing isn’t pretty but allows for a great downswing, which is by far more important. Key points to incorporate into your own swing:
- Relaxed Posture
- Get the club head as flat and as far behind you as possible
- Step through the ball in the follow-through.”
You can read Jack’s full, expert analysis here which features the pros and cons of Trump’s motion.
It is much harder to analyse Biden’s golf swing as there aren’t many traces of it online. Dylan Dethier of Golf.com shared a video of Biden taking a swipe with his driver back in 2020 on what used to be named Twitter, but only through a half-open door.
Unlike Trump’s swing being well-documented in a 56-minute vlog with the 2024 US Open champion, we don’t have the down-the-line angle of Biden’s swing. Another clip was unearthed this year which allegedly shows Biden hitting a sort of pitch next to a green.
There is one image online taken in 2009 of Biden and former President Barack Obama putting on the White House putting green. Again, not a lot to go on. With a lack of evidence, we can crown only one winner.
You’d assume Trump would win if this dream showdown was delivered. If only…
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