President Donald Trump’s love for golf is well known, from competing and watching the sport to designing courses alongside top players. He is equally open about his ongoing relationships with figures from the professional circuit.
Over the weekend, Trump has been present at his resort in the Irish village of Doonbeg to observe the Irish Open. Ahead of Sunday’s final round, Irish golfer Shane Lowry held a four-stroke lead in the competition.
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Addressing the president’s leisure habits, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick noted that golf remains a primary pastime. “The president works all day, every day. And there are two things that he does for enjoyment,” Lutnick told reporters recently. “He plays golf on the weekend and he builds. He loves to build.”
US President Donald Trump walks through the members bar of his Doonbeg golf resort as he attends the Irish Open, during his trip to the Republic of Ireland (PA)
Trump takes considerable pride in his connections with leading professionals, frequently praising them in public. “I have so many friends that are professional, top professional golfers,” Trump told Fox News Channel’s “The Five” earlier this year, explicitly citing Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Bryson DeChambeau and Scottie Scheffler.
These relationships frequently extend to social media posts following matches, official White House invitations, and civic honours. Furthermore, several professionals are currently collaborating with Trump to redesign golf facilities within the Washington region.
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Here’s some of what Trump has had to say about golfers.
Bryson DeChambeau
Trump said DeChambeau is among the “great pros.” The two have played together and DeChambeau has appeared at the White House. He celebrated his first U.S. Open title in 2020 at one of Trump’s golf properties in New York.
Bryson DeChambeau (Getty)
Last year, he was chosen as the chairperson of Trump’s reconstituted version of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition, an advisory committee.
Ernie Els
The South African pro golfer was in the Oval Office in May 2025 as part of the delegation accompanying Cyril Ramaphosa, his country’s president, to a meeting with Trump. Fellow South African golfer Retief Goosen was also part of the group.
“Ernie Els is a great golfer. He’s a truly great golfer and Retief Goosen, who’s another really — we call him really a great golfer, too, Ernie, right?” Trump said. “These two guys are fantastic, and we could add Gary to the group, Gary Player. What a group of golfers South Africa has had. There must be something in the water, right?”
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Trump awarded Player, who is considered one of the sport’s greatest golfers, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2021. It is one of the most prestigious honors an American president can give a civilian.
Rory McIlroy
After winning this year’s Masters, McIlroy was a guest at Trump’s White House state dinner for King Charles III and Queen Camilla in April 2026. Trump recognized the six-time major champion from Northern Ireland as he spoke about the “unconquerable courage” he said is shared by the United States and the United Kingdom.
U.S. President Donald Trump applauds to golfer Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland during the Irish Open at the Trump International Golf Links course in Doonbeg, Ireland, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026.(AP Photo/Peter Morrison) (AP)
“And speaking of that, where’s Rory McIlroy? … Stand up, Rory. Will you please? That was unconquerable courage. That was very good, Rory,” Trump said of the Masters win.
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“I had to interrupt my speech because I watched that man win a tournament that was, that was a tough, that was a tough one. Congratulations. Very proud of you,” Trump continued.
Trump has also said McIlroy “loves” the Doonbeg course.
Jack Nicklaus
“I love Jack. OK? Jack is great,” Trump told Fox News host Trey Gowdy in August after he asked who the president would have in his “dream foursome.”
J.T. Poston of the United States shakes hands with Jack Nicklaus as he presents him the trophy during the final round of the the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday 2026 at Muirfield Village Golf Club on June 07, 2026 (Getty)
Trump has enlisted the retired Nicklaus, who designs golf courses, to help him redesign the golf courses at Joint Base Andrews, the military base in the Maryland suburbs of Washington where Air Force One is parked.
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Scottie Scheffler
“So great,” Trump told Gowdy about Scheffler, the top-ranked player on the PGA Tour.
Scottie Scheffler of the United States poses with the trophy after winning the final round of the TOUR Championship 2026 at East Lake Golf Club on August 30, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia (Getty)
Annika Sorenstam
Sorenstam, the only LPGA player to shoot 59 and a winner of the career Grand Slam, played golf with Trump, Player and the late Sen. Lindsey Graham at his course in Virginia in 2019.
Annika Sorenstam reacts to her putt on the second green during the final round of the American Century Championship 2026 at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course on July 12, 2026 (Getty)
Trump awarded Sorenstam the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which brought criticism to the Swedish great because the ceremony took place on Jan. 7, 2021, one day after the violent riot at the Capitol.
Sorenstam is now host of an LPGA event called The Annika. Last year, she gave a sponsor invitation to Kai Trump, the president’s granddaughter.
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Tiger Woods
“I happen to love Tiger. Tiger is a great guy,” the president told Gowdy.
Days later, Woods pleaded no contest to a reckless driving charge and a judge suspended his driver’s license for five years following a March rollover crash in Florida. He was arrested in March after his SUV clipped a truck on a residential road near his home on Jupiter Island.
Professional golfer and Stanford Cardinal alumni Tiger Woods stands on the sidelines during the first half of the Stanford Cardinal game against the Miami (FL) Hurricanes at Stanford Stadium on September 04, 2026 in Stanford, California (Getty)
Two pain pills were found in Woods’ pocket and he showed signs of impairment. Woods’ career has been derailed by multiple back and knee surgeries, car crashes and dependence on pain medication.
After the court appearance, Trump repeated to reporters that he thinks Woods is a “great guy” and said he is “unique in so many ways, and especially as an athlete, but also as a man.”
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He said he thought the case was resolved fairly and that he’d previously suggested to Woods that he get someone to drive him around because of the pain he suffers.
Trump called Woods a “true legend” when he awarded him a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2019. Woods is currently dating Vanessa Trump, the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr.
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