Rory McIlroy's determination to remain (publicly) indifferent to politics was presumably forged in the hothouse that is Northern Ireland.
This tendency of his doesn't confine itself to these islands, however.
McIlroy's apolitical nature was discussed in today's edition of our daily sports podcast, The Racket:
Quite simply, it would have impossible for Rory to reach the position of world's number 1 golfer and not exchange a few words with Donald Trump along the way.
Last year, he flung his 3-iron in the lake at Doral in the World Cadillac Championship after a poor approach shot.
The following day, naturally in the presence of cameras, the course owner (of course, he is) and the by now heavy, heavy favourite for the Republican nomination for President returned the club to McIlroy.
Rory allowed Trump to hold onto the club as a memento. It was reported yesterday that Trump has honoured that promise (d'you hear that Washington?) and will get the club framed.
And on the morning after Trump's stunning set of victories on Super Tuesday, McIlroy was asked how he felt about his Presidential run.
Rory certainly didn't peg himself as an ardent supporter of the wigged one but nor did he bolster his credentials as a social justice warrior.
He's not going to be the leader of my country, so it really doesn't bother me too much.
Rory McIlroy on Donald Trump: "He's not going to be the leader of my country, so it really doesn't bother me too much."
— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelESPN) March 2, 2016
And there is Rory's definitive take on the US Presidential election. We will have to wait for the next round of Assembly elections at Stormont to get a proper political soundbite off Rory. Or perhaps even Westminster. Does Rory think Lady Sylvia Hermon can hold on the next time around?
According to Golf Weekly, McIlroy told the pressman that he had thoughts and feelings about politics in Northern Ireland but that he wasn't too bothered about politics in America. Either way, none of the US contenders leave him bubbling with enthusiasm.
I thought I knew politics until I started watching these debates. I can't vote and if I could I'm not sure I would vote for any of these candidates.
