McIlroy: Irish Open Week Will Feel 'Different' With Trump at Doonbeg

By Staff Writer

September 9, 2026

3 min read

The 2015 Masters Tournament was the 79th Masters Tournament , and the first of golf's four major championships, held April 9–12 at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.

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Key takeaways

President Trump is expected at Trump International Golf Links Doonbeg on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 12-13, during the Amgen Irish Open.
Rory McIlroy said the week will feel "different" but that players will keep their heads down and play.
The N67 and R484 roads near the course close from 6 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11 through 11:59 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14.
All spectators must use Park and Ride or shuttle buses and pass a security search with bag-size limits.
General admission tickets start at €40, with 18th-hole hospitality priced from €549 before VAT.

Rory McIlroy said Tuesday that the 2026 Amgen Irish Open will feel different this week with U.S. President Donald Trump expected to attend the weekend rounds at Trump International Golf Links Doonbeg, the County Clare resort Trump owns. Trump is on an official two-day visit to Ireland and is scheduled to be at Doonbeg on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 12-13, according to the Press Association and Irish Golfer Magazine.

What did McIlroy say about the visit?

Speaking to BBC Sport Northern Ireland ahead of Thursday's opening round, the defending champion said "it's going to be different with him being here," but that players are at Doonbeg "to play a tournament on a good golf course" and will keep their heads down. On the weekend, he said crowds "will be limited, obviously there's a lot that goes on." Asked about hosting a sitting president, McIlroy added that if Trump wants to come and watch the Irish Open, "who are we to say 'no?'"

McIlroy is defending the title he won at The K Club in 2025, when he beat Joakim Lagergren on the third playoff hole with a 28-foot eagle putt on the 72nd. This week's edition is the first major professional tournament Doonbeg has hosted.

What road closures and security measures are in place?

Clare County Council has confirmed the N67 will close between Doonbeg village and Clonadrum, and the R484 between Creegh and Behan's Cross, from 6 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11 through 11:59 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14, at the request of An Garda Síochána. Parking has been banned in Doonbeg village since Tuesday, Sept. 8, and vehicles left on approach roads are liable to be towed.

Access for all ticket holders is by Park and Ride or shuttle bus only. A free Park and Ride service runs from Wednesday, Sept. 9 through Sunday, Sept. 13 at two registered sites, with additional shuttles from Kilkee, Kilrush and Miltown Malbay. Every attendee faces a security search, with bags limited to roughly airline under-seat size.

Players are treating the visit as a schedule note, not a talking point.

How much do tickets cost?

Ticket type	Price
General admission	From €40
Ticket+	From €155
18th-hole hospitality	From €549 (+VAT)

Pricing is listed on the DP World Tour's ticket page as of Sept. 8. The tour has not published a reduced admission figure for the weekend, and it remains unclear whether "limited" crowds will mean fewer tickets sold or galleries held back near the presidential party.

Frequently asked questions

When is Trump expected at the Amgen Irish Open?

He is scheduled to attend Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 12-13, as a spectator during an official two-day visit to Ireland, according to the Press Association and Irish Golfer Magazine.

Will general admission ticket holders still get in?

Nothing official suggests otherwise. Access is by Park and Ride or shuttle for all ticket holders, and McIlroy expects crowds to be limited on the days Trump attends, though the DP World Tour has not published a reduced capacity figure.

Has McIlroy played golf with Trump before?

Yes. McIlroy played a round with Trump in Florida in February 2017 and publicly defended the decision amid criticism at the time. He made no reference to that history in Tuesday's comments.