Donald Trump asks Rory McIlroy to stand up during speech days after public snub

US President Donald Trump took a sudden departure from his prepared remarks at Tuesday's state dinner in honour of King Charles and Queen Camilla to heap praise on Rory McIlroy. The Masters winner was a surprise addition to the guest list for the event during the British royals' visit to the United States. And speaking on the longstanding alliance between the United States and the United Kingdom , Trump took a sharp turn when the topic of courage came up in his prewritten speech, immediately turning to McIlroy and requesting he stand for the crowd. "This unconquerable courage, it really is, it’s unconquerable.

Speaking of that, where’s Rory McIlroy? Stand up Rory, will you please?" Trump said off the cuff. "That was unconquerable courage. That was very good, Rory.

"I don’t know if that helps, talk about how wonderful in the speech, but I had to interrupt my speech, because I watched that man win a tournament, that was a tough, that was a tough one. Congratulations, very proud of you. All right, now I’ll get back to my speech, Rory." McIlroy successfully defended his Masters title earlier this month, becoming only the fourth man to win back-to-back at Augusta as he sealed a one-shot victory.

But the Manchester United supporter has largely laid low since his triumph. JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! All the best sports news and much more on our dedicated Facebook page And it was confirmed earlier this week that McIlroy has decided to sit out next week's Cadillac Championship at Trump Doral. It is the second £16 million Signature Event in a row that has chosen to miss this season.

The move came as a blow for President Trump, who had hoped he'd see McIlroy on the Blue Monster course. After McIlroy went back-to-back at the Masters, Trump used his Truth Social platform to send a message to the golf star. He wrote: "Congratulations to Rory McIlroy on another Great Championship, The Masters! "He performed tremendously under intense pressure, something which few people would be able to even think about doing.

With each year, Rory is becoming more and more a LEGEND! I look forward to watching him compete in two weeks at Doral." McIlroy joined golfing greats Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods in successfully defending his title at Augusta National earlier this month. And Padraig Harrington believes the Northern Irishman has the mental strength needed to win up to 10 Masters titles. He said, "As regards to Masters, Rory could win 10 of them at this stage, or five of them anyway.

He probably will still be competitive at 50 years of age around that golf course. “For him, it was interesting that he won that one with his short game, which makes him even better a player. Over the years it is physicality to driving and the iron play. He has always been a superb chipper, but now it is with the putting and things like that. “A very rounded game and a game that looks like it has a lot of longevity in it, so he is in a very nice place going forward, particularly at that tournament. “It is amazing when you win one, that he has now got two and we are thinking that maybe two or three or five would be realistic around that golf course.”