Photos: President Trump awards highest U.S. civilian honor to Tiger Woods

President Donald Trump awarded Masters champion and golfing buddy Tiger Woods the Medal of Freedom on Monday evening in a Rose Garden ceremony the athlete's new girlfriend also attended.

The president said that Woods, 43, is 'one of the greatest athletes in the history of sports' and has inspired people worldwide with his barrier-breaking victories, capped by a comeback at this year's tournament. 'He's also a great person. He's a great guy,' Trump declared. 'He inspired millions of young Americans with his thrilling wire-to-wire victories. Tiger Woods is a global symbol of american excellence, devotion, and drive.'

The first African-American to win the Masters and the youngest golfer to take the title, Woods won his first major tournament in 11 years in April after suffering severe injuries that threatened to end his career forever. Woods cried at the White House as he talked about his late father and spoke about his 'amazing' comeback this year and the'unbelievable experience' of winning the award in front his mother, children, caddy, girlfriend Erica Herman, the president and first lady Melania Trump.
'You've seen the good and the bad, the highs and the lows, and I would not be in this position without all your help,' he told his family. 'I've battled, I try to hang in there, and I've tried to come back and play the great game of golf again.'