Rory McIlroy confirms Donald Trump dinner after difficult Irish Open third round

Rory McIlroy joined U.S. President Donald Trump for dinner at Trump Doonbeg on Saturday night after confirming earlier in the evening that he had accepted an invitation from the President.

The 37-year-old Northern Irishman revealed he would be attending the dinner shortly after a hugely disappointing third round at the Irish Open, where he carded a 4-over 74 to fall back to 2-over par for the tournament.

McIlroy, who is this week defending the title he won in dramatic fashion at The K Club, is lying T50 as it stands and trails his good friend and tournament leader Shane Lowry by 18 shots heading into Sunday's final round.

The Ulsterman's difficult third round began with two double bogeys in his opening six holes, leaving him playing catch-up for much of the day.

“Yeah, two doubles in the first six holes wasn't the way I wanted to start it, obviously,” McIlroy admitted after his round.

“Yeah, a couple of wayward drives. I took a chance on 3 trying to hit driver there and get it close to the green and hit it out of bounds or lost ball, either/or. Then same thing on 6. Tried to get it up close to the green, had to take an unplayable and made another one there.

“So no momentum early, and then it was a tough enough day. Obviously, the wind was up and stuff. Yeah, just couldn't quite get it back after that.”

The six-time major champion was also frustrated with his putting, having admitted throughout the week that his green-reading has not been quite right at Doonbeg.

“More of the same,” he said when asked about his putting. 

“I didn't give myself as many chances as I did yesterday but the chances that I did give myself, same thing.

“Feel like I'm hitting good putts, they're just either misreads or just burning the edges.”

There was a notable moment as McIlroy walked off the 18th green, with Trump watching from the left side of the green.

The pair acknowledged each other before McIlroy headed off to sign his card.

Trump's arrival had been one of the biggest talking points surrounding this year's Irish Open, with Air Force One landing at Doonbeg on Saturday afternoon while players were still completing their third rounds.

McIlroy was out on the course and looking for his ball in the rough when Air Force One flew overhead on its approach to Doonbeg.

It provided a surreal backdrop to an already unusual day at the Irish Open, with players continuing to compete while the U.S. President arrived at the venue.

McIlroy had already acknowledged earlier in the week that Trump's presence would make for a different weekend.

“If he wants to come and watch the Irish Open, who are we to say no?” McIlroy told BBC Sport Northern Ireland.

“It's going to be different with him being here but we're here to play a golf tournament and it's a good golf course and keep our head down and play.”

McIlroy has met Trump many times before, including at the White House in April, attending a state dinner alongside his wife Erica just days after successfully defending his Masters title.

Trump acknowledged McIlroy's achievement during that dinner, saying he had watched the Northern Irishman win at Augusta National and was proud of him.

Now, following Trump's visit to Doonbeg, McIlroy has joined the President for another dinner.

Attention will quickly turn back to the golf for McIlroy, who tees off alongside Rafa Cabrera Bello at 9.20am on Sunday as he looks to finish his Irish Open on a positive note.

He will then turn his attention to the BMW PGA at Wentworth, where he recently bought a house with his family, before looking ahead to the DP World Tour Playoffs in the UAE, where he will continue his pursuit of Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed.

Reed, incidentally, is T6 on 4-under par entering the final round of the Irish Open. 

McIlroy is chasing an eighth Race to Dubai title, which would see him match Colin Montgomerie's all-time European Tour record.

Reed, who has just seen out a 12-month suspension on the PGA Tour after quitting LIV Golf at the end of 2025, is going in search of his first ever Race to Dubai title.