Rory McIlroy says he’s been left ‘guilty by association’ for golfing with Trump – and says he wouldn’t do it again

Golfer also criticised president Trump’s handling of coronavirus

Rory McIlroy has said that he “probably wouldn’t” play golf with President Donald Trump again, after he faced criticism for it three years ago.

Mr McIlroy, the number one ranked male golfer in the world, was pictured playing golf with the president in Florida, in 2017.

He faced a lot of criticism, including being called a “bigot” for playing with the president at his golf resort in Florida, but at the time, defended his actions in a Twitter post.

“Whether you respect the person who holds that position or not, you respect the office that he holds,” he said. “Golf was our common ground, nothing else. I’ve travelled all over the world and have been fortunate enough to befriend people from many different countries, beliefs and cultures.”

Speaking on the McKellar Golf Podcast, Mr McIlory said that he was made to be “guilty by association” for playing with the president.

He confirmed that he had a “very enjoyable” day playing with Mr Trump, and said that “he is very charismatic and was nice to everyone. He obviously has something, or he wouldn’t be in the White House.”

Mr McIlroy added: “That doesn’t mean I agree with everything — or, in fact, anything — that he says.”

When he was asked if he would play golf with Mr Trump again, Mr McIlroy replied: “I know it’s very self-serving of me to say ‘no’ and, if I don’t, then it means then I’m not putting myself in position to be put under scrutiny and that I’m avoiding that. But I probably wouldn’t, no.”

Mr McIlroy also criticised the president’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, and said that he has not acted like a leader.

“We’re in the midst of something that’s pretty serious right now and the fact that he’s trying to politicise it and make it a campaign rally and say they we administer the most tests in world like it is a contest — there’s some stuff that’s just terrible,’’ the golfer said.

“It’s not the way a leader should act. And there is a sort of diplomacy that you need to show, and I just don’t think he’s showing that — especially in these times,’’ he added.

The male world number one will play a televised game of golf for the first time in two months on Sunday, when he will take on Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler in a round in aid of coronavirus charities.

Golf is scheduled to resume properly on 11 June in Texas, but McIlory said he is happy to be able to provide entertainment while fans wait for its return.

“What we’re doing is a great thing, it’s a very small piece of all this but I’m just happy to be able to help in some way and bring some joy to people, I guess, when they haven’t had anything to really look forward to for a couple of months,” he said.