Donald Trump calls Grant Forrest 'amazing' in FaceTime chat after Nexo Championship triumph

Forrest took the highest of congratulations after winning the tournament at Trump International

Grant Forrest turned his second DP World Tour triumph into a five-hour victory parade at Trump International.

The 32-year-old from Livingston cruised to the Nexo Championship title by four shots after beginning the final round with a three-stroke cushion.

In the event, he finished as he had begun, on eight-under-par after signing for a 72.

It’s emerged that Forrest even took a FaceTime call from Donald Trump himself congratulating him and describing him as an amazing player who he wants to play with in the States.

Trump also claimed he’d been watching the tournament all week.

The call, arranged by the golf club, took place in the clubhouse and lasted several minutes.

Not even a double-bogey seven at the last could take the shine of Forrest’s relentless pursuit of the near £350,000 top prize – more than double what he won for his maiden victory at the Hero Open at the Fairmont St Andrews four years ago.

Forrest sent his tee shot left into the waste area at the last and was forced to take a penalty drop, eventually ending up just short of the green in four.

Three putts later he was champion in front of his wife, Christy and eight-month-old son, Spencer.

“Both wins are special,” he said. “But this one feels even more so, having the wee man here along with the whole family.”

For all that he had the memory of also leading from the front in 2021, Forrest confessed: “I was really nervous, as you would be, and my three good par putts at the start really settled the nerves, as well as a brilliant second shot into four.

“It was a day where I thought it was going to be tough for someone to chase and I knew that if I didn’t drop any shots, there were going to be plenty of good chances and I managed to do that for the most part.

“Even the five on 12 after the tee shot is something I’d have taken and then I made good saves on 16 and 17 as well to give myself a good cushion coming down 18.

“I was struggling off the tee today, especially with the driver. The wind had been more in out of the right at the last and it was sort of half and half and out of the left and from that elevated tee, it is not a favourable shot for a right-hander.

“I kind of knew the red stakes were up the left so I was hugging the left side and I thought the worst I could make from there was a six or seven.

“So, while it was a wee bit ropey coming down 18, it was nice to have a six-shot lead at that point.”

But Forrest claimed that it was only when his ball landed on the green at the last that he was able to enjoy his moment in the sun.

He said: “Even the third shot I had, it wasn’t that nice as the wind really picked up on the back nine and I flushed a 2-iron 226 yards to the front and it didn’t even reach.

“I was just glad to see the next one land on the green and know that I had a few putts from there to win it.”

Forrest clearly has a liking for tournaments with four letters in the sponsor’s name. “And in Scotland, yeah. It seems like it,” he added.

Englishman Joe Dean was runner-up after a closing 71 took him to four-under, a shot ahead of three players.

Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan (74), Dane Jacob Skov Olesen (72) and John Parry (70) of England shared third.

Glasgow’s Marc Warren finished with a flourish when he carded 67 for a two-over total to earn the shared accolade of being second top Scot with Ryan Lumsden. who closed with a 75.

Perth’s Danny Young was next on four-over after a 76 while America-based Martin Laird was two further back after shedding three shots over the closing two holes, including a double-bogey at 17, for a 74.

Aberdonian David Law signed off on the same mark as Laird after a 72.