Donald Trump was among the well-wishers to congratulate Rory McIlroy on his Masters victory Sunday.
The Northern Irishman, 35, held his nerve in a tense play-off with England’s Justin Rose to end a barren 11-year major run and finally complete the career Grand Slam at Augusta National.
However, it wasn’t without its nail-biting moments of agony as the PGA Tour icon endured a rollercoaster round, seeing the lead slip through his fingers a number of times before eventually slipping into the Green Jacket.
And the president commended McIlroy for his perseverance through the highs and lows.
‘I have to congratulate Rory,’ Trump said, addressing reporters on Air Force One, via Fox News. ‘That took tremendous courage. He was having a hard time, but it showed great guts and stamina and courage.
‘People have no idea how tough that is. He came back. It’s better for him that it happened that way because that showed real courage to have come back from what could’ve been a tragedy – it was amazing.’
President Donald Trump weighed in on Rory McIlroy’s Masters victory on Sunday night
The 78-year-old commended McIlroy for his ‘tremendous courage’ at Augusta National
McIlroy emerged victorious from a play-off with Justin Rose after making birdie on the first play-off hole
Trump, who described the Masters as ‘maybe my favorite sporting show,’ went on to give a shout out to runner-up Rose.
Speaking as if he knew firsthand what it took to win a major championship, Trump said: ‘Justin Rose was great.
‘Look, they’re great athletes under tremendous pressure. But unless you’re a golfer, you don’t understand that hundredth of an inch makes a difference between a great shot and a horrible shot.’
Trump, who attended UFC 314 with his grandchildren, Elon Musk and an entourage of political figures Saturday night, is an avid golfer himself but failed to make an appearance at the famous Georgia course this week.
Yet, that didn’t prevent the Commander-in-Chief from revealing who he wanted to emerge victorious from the major championship.
Earlier in the week, Trump refused to play favorites, despite some expecting him to back someone like Bryson DeChambeau, who appeared with him on stage after he secured the election win over Kamala Harris last November and teed it up alongside McIlroy for Sunday’s showdown.
‘They’re all friends of mine. They have some great ones. Scottie Scheffler ‘s great. Bryson [DeChambeau] is great. Justin Rose, they’re all friends of mine,’ Trump said aboard Air Force One on Friday.
‘It’s going to be a very good Masters. Looks like it’s going to be a very good Masters. Some fantastic golfers at the top.’
