Rory McIlroy abandons carefully-planned rehab schedule to play a round of golf with Donald Trump
Former World No1 was not planning to risk his fractured rib injury but couldn't resist following a call from the President
RORY McILROY has just played 18 holes with Donald Trump — but he will not be teeing off in The Open at the US President’s Turnberry track any time soon.
As news filtered through of McIlroy’s unusual fitness test after a seven-week lay-off with a fractured rib, the R&A confirmed Open venues for 2020 and 2021.
And Turnberry was still not among them.
McIlroy abandoned his carefully-planned rehab schedule to play a round with the President at his Trump International course, close to the golfer’s second home in West Palm Beach, Florida.
He shared a cart with Trump for all 18 holes on Sunday, with both men hitting from the forward tees. And he said he was impressed with his playing partner’s efforts. McIlroy explained: “He probably shot around 80.
“He’s a decent player for a guy in his 70s!”
The former world No 1 was not planning to play a full 18 holes until later this week, but made an exception after getting a call from one of Trump’s people on Saturday night.
The Open will return to Royal St George’s in 2020, with St Andrews vacating the spot on its usual five-year cycle to host the 150th Championship in 2021.
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Royal Lytham is favourite to get the event in 2022, and R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers confirmed Turnberry — which last hosted an Open in 2009 — would not be given special treatment because it is owned by the President.
Slumbers commented: “The fact that one of the venues on The Open rota is now owned by the US President does not change anything.
“All we can do is confirm that Turnberry remains on the rota of nine courses.”
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