SHOULDN’T HAVE DON IT, MACCA

PAUL McGINLEY is worried that the storm over Rory McIlroy playing golf with Donald Trump will hamper his bid to make history at the Masters.

The world No.3 (above) returns to action at the WGC-Mexico Championship today after being out since January with a fractured rib.

But the Ulsterman still managed to cause headlines by playing 18 holes with the new President of the United States in Florida last week.

Now with the first Major of the season barely a month away – and McIlroy having played only two events in 17 weeks – his former Ryder Cup captain (above) said he must quickly get his focus back on completing his career Grand Slam at Augusta.

“He has walked into a storm – of course it’s a worry,” said the Dubliner. “In preparation for the Masters, this is not a noise you really want to have. It can’t help, put it that way.

“Rory got involved with the debate about the Olympics on the day before The Open last year – and it affected his performance.

“You look what Tiger Woods did in his career. He was just focused on winning golf tournaments.

“I want to see Rory focusing on his golf in the next four or five weeks and then getting down to making history.” McIlroy can reclaim the world No.1 spot by winning in Mexico if Dustin Johnson finishes outside the top three. But the four-time Major winner was still defending his “surreal experience” with Trump.

“I’m sorry if I p ***** people off but I felt I was in a position where I couldn’t really do anything but say yes,” said McIlroy.

“I just wanted to have an experience that I might not ever get again – playing golf with a sitting President.

“It’s not as if we discussed foreign policy – we talked golf all day.

“Respect the office even if you don’t respect the guy that’s in it.”