Tiger Woods has new friend in Sammy the Squirrel at President’s Cup

Forget about golf, the biggest story from the President’s Cup this week has been Sammy the Squirrel.

The rodent has become an overnight media star after snuggling with Tiger Woods and his girlfriend, skier Lindsey Vonn, at the Muirfield Village golf course in Ohio.

Sammy became the American team’s unofficial mascot on Thursday when assistant coach Davis Love III found it near the second hole and, fearing it might get trampled, scooped it up.

The Americans were doing well against their competitors, the International team, so Love hung onto his new pal.

“My dad always picked up sticks for good luck and he told me I had to keep it as long as we were winning holes,” said Love, who is a hunter and outdoorsman.

Not knowing whether they had a male or female on their hands, the Americans picked an androgynous name for Sammy. Later, television coverage showed Vonn taking it from Love’s pocket and setting it on her boyfriend’s shoulder.

Woods, watching action on the nearby 18th green, looked momentarily annoyed but later allowed Sammy to perch beside his ear.

Asked if the team might keep the squirrel through the weekend, Love told reporters: “He’s going to visit Jack Hanna at the Columbus Zoo tomorrow.”

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