McIlroy plays his Trump card
RORY McILROY has followed in the footsteps of Tiger Woods by playing a round of golf with American President Donald Trump.
He got the call from the President’s staff on Saturday night and, despite not intending to play at the weekend, felt he could not turn down the request.
McIlroy rode in the cart for all 18 holes at the Trump International course in West Palm Beach — about 20 minutes from his Florida home.
‘He probably shot around 80. He’s a decent player for a guy in his seventies,’ said McIlroy of his playing companion.
The fourball was completed by Rich Levine, a friend of Trump’s, and Nick Mullen, who works for Chubby Chandler at sports management firm ISM and who plays off scratch.
McIlroy, who has been recovering from a rib injury that has sidelined him for five weeks, has targeted next week’s WGC-Mexico Championship for his comeback — an event ironically moved from Trump National Doral to Mexico City.
Meanwhile, it would appear that nothing Trump has done since becoming President has changed the prospects of his Turnberry course hosting The Open Championship, according to the R&A.
Royal St George’s was announced as the host of the 2020 Open yesterday, with the 150th edition the following year to be held at St Andrews. But Turnberry — owned by the Trump Organization — remains in contention to host golf’s oldest major again after 2021.
Golf’s most influential figures had previously distanced themselves from Trump in the wake of his views on Mexican immigrants, which were expressed when the 70-year-old announced his decision to stand for the Republican nomination in 2015.
The Grand Slam of Golf was moved from Trump National in Los Angeles, while the PGA Tour switched the WGC-Cadillac Championship from Trump National Doral to Mexico City from this year. The event was renamed the WGC-Mexico Championship and will be staged next week.
However, Turnberry remains firmly on an Open rota which is set to be boosted to 10 courses if Muirfield votes to admit lady members — albeit at the second time of asking — next month.
R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said: ‘I said last year we were focused on Turnberry as a golf course and there has been nothing that has happened in the last year to change that.
‘Turnberry remains absolutely as one of our nine golf courses. 2020 and 2021 did not involve Turnberry and we’ll not be thinking about 2022 for at least another year.
‘It’s very important that we’re clear about what our business is, which is making sure that The Open Championship is one of the world’s greatest sporting events, and staying out of politics.
‘We’re learning. It’s important we understand where the game is and make sure we keep to that, without ignoring all the other factors that go around it.’