Oscar De La Hoya has accused President Donald Trump of cheating during a round of golf they played together, telling the Associated Press that Trump repeatedly bent the rules in his favor.
De La Hoya, who won world titles at super featherweight, lightweight, light welterweight, light middleweight and middleweight, said Trump moved his ball from the rough onto the fairway and did not count shots that landed in the water.
"It was unbelievable," De La Hoya said, adding, "It shows something about his character."
"Golf is a gentleman's sport," he said. "You don't lie about your score; you don't lie about moving your ball. It goes to show what we're dealing with."
De La Hoya is one of several people to question Trump's honesty on the course, including former President Barack Obama, who has also hinted at Trump's golfing dishonesty.
Other accusations of cheating
Veteran sports writer Rick Reilly wrote a book examining Trump's alleged history of cheating at golf, describing a pattern of behavior he said he witnessed firsthand.
Reilly said Trump drove a modified golf cart that went faster than others, allowing him to speed ahead of his group and move his ball into a better position before the rest of the group arrived. Like De La Hoya, Reilly claimed Trump would improve his lies illegally. He also alleged that Trump would kick opponents' balls into sand traps.
In the book, Reilly recalled a round in Los Angeles in which Trump hit a shot into a pond, only for the ball to turn up in the fairway. When asked to explain, Reilly said Trump replied, "Must've been the tide."
Incident at Scotland course
British golf writer Kevin Brown recounted a separate incident in 2012 during a round at Trump's Balmedie course in Scotland, known as Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire. Brown described Trump as impatient and eager to move quickly, recalling that Trump told a playing partner to "get a move on" at one point while Brown was admiring the scenery.
Trump's response
Trump has repeatedly denied allegations of cheating, previously saying he has "too much integrity" to cheat at the sport.
