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NEW YORK (Reuters) - Four-time major champion
Rory McIlroy criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for his
response to the coronavirus outbreak, and said it was unlikely
the pair would meet for another round of golf.
"We're in the midst of something that's pretty serious right
now," McIlroy told the McKellar Golf Podcast
https://anchor.fm/mckellargolfpodcast/
episodes/McKellar-Golf-Podcast-43-Rory-McIlroy-ee2i96. "The fact
that he's trying to politicize it and make it a campaign rally
and say that we administer the most tests in the world, like
it's a contest - there's some stuff that just is terrible.
"It's not the way a leader should act," said McIlroy, who has
won the U.S. Open and British Open as well as two PGA
Championship titles.
The world's top-ranked golfer faced fierce criticism for playing
with Trump shortly after the Republican president's inauguration
in 2017, but said the interaction was not an endorsement.
"The day that I did spend with him and others was very
enjoyable," said McIlroy, who is from Northern Ireland. "That
doesn't mean that I agree with everything or, in fact, anything
that he says."
Trump has played with several current and former pro golfers,
including Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, 2016 U.S. Open winner
Dustin Johnson and 2017 PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas.
"I don't know if he would want to play with me again after what
I just said," said McIlroy. "I probably wouldn't again."
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for
comment.
McIlroy, 31, is set to compete in a two-on-two, $3 million
charity skins match on Sunday to benefit COVID-19 relief,
teaming up with Johnson against Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff.
(Reporting By Amy Tennery; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
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