McIlroy says Trump’s Irish Open visit will bring tight security and a different feel

DOONBEG, Ireland (AP) — Rory McIlroy says the expected visit of President Donald Trump at this week’s Irish Open poses logistical challenges, and that the atmosphere will be different.

A White House official said last month that Trump planned to attend the tournament at his Doonbeg golf course in County Clare on the Atlantic coast of Ireland, which is hosting the Irish Open for the first time.

His trip to the course will require extra security measures, as it did when he attended the Cadillac Championship at his Trump National Doral course near Miami this year, and when he attended the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York.

“I think when the sitting president of the United States of America visits anywhere, it becomes a logistical challenge,” McIlroy said Wednesday. “There’s a lot that goes into it.

“They obviously have to lock down a specific area and make sure that it’s safe for him to travel into, and the entire delegation, whoever that is. Logistically, it provides a bit of a challenge but we are at one of his properties that he has kindly provided for us to play a golf tournament.

“His presence at the Irish Open makes it a truly international event,” McIlroy said. “That brings more attention and eyeballs to the Irish Open, and it can only be a good thing.”

BBC Northern Ireland said Trump might present the trophy on Sunday, which he did at the 2017 Presidents Cup across from New York City during his first term in office.

Either way, McIlroy expects the atmosphere to be changed.

“I don’t know what the protocol will be on Saturday when the president arrives,” he said. “Look, is it a little disruptive to play? Absolutely. But again, there’s protocols in place for a reason, and all we can do is follow them and abide by them, and whenever we’re ready to play again, we put our heads down and we go and play.”

McIlroy confirmed he played a role in getting the Irish Open to Trump International. He has a U.S. base in Florida, he knows Eric Trump and their children go to the same school.

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McIlroy said the European tour sought his opinion on whether Doonbeg would be suitable for the event. “I said, ‘Look, I haven’t been there but from all accounts, I hear it’s a very, very good golf course with accommodation onsite. The Irish Open has not been in this part of the world in several years, since Lahinch in 2019. I think it would be a good thing.”

Trump bought the Doonbeg course out of receivership in 2014. This will be the second European tour event at a Trump property. The Nexo Championship was held last month at his golf course in Aberdeen, Scotland.

The PGA Tour hosted a signature event at the Trump course near Miami, and the LIV Golf League held an event at Trump National in New Jersey. The only tournament Trump missed at one of his courses this year was Aberdeen.

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See AP’s full golf coverage here