Celebrities and professional sportspeople have said that Donald Trump is the "world's worst cheat" when it comes to playing golf, according to a new book.

President Trump is known to enjoy golf, and he controversially spends many weekends at his own golf courses up and down the US.

Now a new book by Rick Reilly, a former Sports Illustrated columnist, claims the president is a serial cheater when it comes to his beloved sport.

"To say Donald Trump cheats is like saying Michael Phelps swims," Reilly writes in the book Commander in Cheat: How golf explains Trump, which is released this week.

"He cheats at the highest level. He cheats when people are watching and he cheats when they aren't."


Image: Mr Trump is known to enjoy spending time on golf courses

Reilly adds: "He cheats whether you like it or not. He cheats because that's how he plays golf".

The journalist spoke to dozens of players and celebrities, who recounted their experiences of playing golf with the Mr Trump.

Hollywood actor Samuel L Jackson recounts his time playing golf with the president, saying: "We clearly saw him hook a ball into a lake at Trump National, and his caddy told him he found it!"

Image: He claims his handicap is 2.8

Even professional players have been claimed underhand tactics are used by the president when he's out on the fairway.

Like Jackson, professional PGA tour golfer Brad Flaxon says he also saw Mr Trump "dunk" a shot in the lake, before claiming that his ball was out on the green.

Image: Mr Trump owns golf courses around the world, including one in Scotland

Norwegian golfer Suzann Petersen told Reilly that "no matter how far into the woods he hits the ball, it's in the middle of the fairway when we get there."

Mr Trump claims his handicap is 2.8, but that's also been questioned by Reilly, who says: "If Trump is a 2.8, Queen Elizabeth is a pole vaulter".

Mr Trump has his name on golf courses around the world, including the Trump Turnberry in Scotland, and is often criticised for spending time on his courses when he claims he is working.