Rory McIlroy is intent on not allowing the distractions of the United States’ President’s attendance to get in the way of his defence of the Amgen Irish Open crown he won in dramatic fashion last year at The K Club and has pledged to focus on the task at hand.
“Yeah, look, it’s going to be different with him [Donald Trump] being here,” McIlroy told BBC Sport Northern Ireland. “But we’re here to play a golf tournament and it’s a good golf course, and [we’ll have to] keep our head down and play.”
The 47th President of the United States is expected to be present on Saturday and Sunday at the west Clare property he owns with the venue hosting its first major professional golf tournament, and McIlroy acknowledged the additional security challenges that must be overcome to ensure the safety of spectators and the President himself.
But it’s his resort after all.
“I think the weekend, especially when he’s here, crowds will be limited, obviously there’s a lot that goes on,” McIlroy said. “Logistically, it provides some challenges absolutely. But at the same time, if he wants to come and watch the Irish Open who are we to say ‘no?’”
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