US President Donald Trump conferred the Presidential Medal of Freedom on ace golfer Tiger Woods in a ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House.

“Your spectacular achievements on the golf course, your triumph over physical adversity and your relentless will to win, win, win these qualities embody the American spirit,” Trump said on Monday evening as he bestowed the nation’s highest civilian honour on Woods, 43.

The distinction comes after Woods won his fifth Masters Tournament, marking a return to form after 10 years marred by scandal, a succession of injuries and addiction to pain-killers.

Trump, himself a golf enthusiast, has long been friendly with Woods, who is designing a golf course for a club in Dubai that is managed by the Trump Organization.

There is a villa named for Woods at Trump’s golf club in Doral, Florida.”He’s also a great person. He’s a great guy,” the president said after conferring he medal on Woods.

“You’ve seen the good and the bad, the highs and the lows and I would not be in this position without your help,” he said.Woods becomes the fourth golfer to receive the award, following Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Charlie Sifford.

The original executive order that created the award, issued by John F. Kennedy in 1963, says the Presidential Medal of Freedom is meant for people who have made “an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavours”.Last month, Trump signaled his intention to give Woods the award following the Masters triumph.