Donald Trump denies cheating at golf, says he’s never played with Oscar De La Hoya

Donald Trump not only denied recent allegations by Oscar De La Hoya that he cheated during a round of golf two years ago, but the presumptive Republican presidential nominee denies having ever played the game with the former boxing champion.

Trump told the Associated Press on Thursday that De La Hoya is “absolutely lying. Not only didn’t I cheat, I didn’t play with him. I have never played a round of golf with this guy.�

Maybe both men are fudging the truth.

TMZ Sports posted a video Thursday showing Trump participating in a celebrity match with De La Hoya watching in 2010 as part of “Donald J. Trump’s Fabulous World of Golf� show.

The bit is hilarious in light of the De La Hoya-Trump back and forth.

Trump is shown on the tee box of a par-three hole he says is 149 yards away, announcing he’s using a “hybrid� club.

With De La Hoya watching in awe along with others, Trump proceeds to smack a shot that rolls to within five feet of the hole.

Trump slaps hands with friends and says, “I like this club.�

De La Hoya says in a filmed interview, “I’m actually very surprised Mr. Trump hit his shot so close to the pin, because that was his first shot of the day. Here’s Trump, gets the club from the bag, looks at the hole, hits the shot, puts it this far from the flag. What does that tell you? He’s a great golfer.�

Trump adds on the video, “Great shot, no warmup.�

Trump told AP that his son, Eric, advised him to ignore the cheating accusations by De La Hoya, who said the billionaire joined his group during a round of golf at Trump National in Palos Verdes and promptly took a couple of mulligans on the first hole they played together and claimed he found his ball in positions on the fairway and green that were erroneous. De La Hoya told TMZ Sports on Thursday that the cheating took place last year.

De La Hoya talked about the golfing incident Tuesday during a media event for Saturday’s championship fight between Mexico’s Canelo Alvarez and England’s Amir Khan, who is Muslim.

Based on that, De La Hoya told reporters, “I’m not [voting] for someone who cheats in golf.�

The head of Golden Boy Promotions said he invited Trump to attend the fight, a jab at the candidate’s critical comments of Mexicans and Muslims.

Trump, though, didn’t pass on the opportunity to deny the allegations and take a swing at De La Hoya while declining an invitation to attend the Alvarez-Khan fight at T-Mobile Arena.

“Golf is an important thing and I felt I had to say something,� Trump said Thursday, adding, “I don’t like to play with men that wear stockings around their face.�

That closing jab was in reference to photos of De La Hoya wearing fishnet stockings and women’s shoes while partying with a model before ultimately landing in rehab.

The banter continued after Trump posted a photo on Twitter of him eating a taco salad on Cinco de Mayo.

“Happy #CincoDeMayo! The best taco bowls are made in Trump Tower Grill. I love Hispanics!�

Alvarez and De La Hoya have criticized Trump this week for past comments about building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico, and deporting Mexicans.

De La Hoya told TMZ Sports, “Does he love the [Hispanics] he’s thinking of deporting or … ?�

Follow Lance Pugmire on Twitter: @latimespugmire