Medal of Freedom: Tiger Woods to receive prestigious honor from US President Donald Trump

Golfing superstar Tiger Woods will be presented with a Presidential Medal of Freedom by US President Donald Trump when he visits the White House on Monday.

Woods will receive the honor after his incredible return to the top of world at The Masters in March, where he captured his 15th major championship.

The day after Woods's incredible win at The Masters, President Trump announced via Twitter that he would be presenting Woods with the medal, tweeting: "Spoke to @TigerWoods to congratulate him on the great victory he had in yesterday's @TheMasters, & to inform him that because of his incredible success & comeback in sports (golf) and, more importantly, LIFE, I will be presenting him with the PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM."

The medal is awarded to 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 endeavors," and was established by President John F. Kennedy in 1963.

Past recipients of the award include Mother Teresa, former UK Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair, the crew of Apollo 13, NFL legend Roger Staubach and soul singer Aretha Franklin.

© Reuters / Lucy Nicholson

Woods will join fellow pros Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Charles Sifford as one of only four golfers to receive the award.

Woods's win at Augusta was hailed by NBA legend Michael Jordan as "The greatest comeback I've ever seen," as sports fans around the world hailed his return to the top of the sport.

Now he will receive the prestigious accolade from the United States' Commander-In-Chief to acknowledge his efforts.