On Sunday, Rory McIlroy played a round of golf with Donald Trump. After the now-infamous round, which produced the never-to-be-forgotten photo below, McIlroy came under considerable fire from some quarters who felt that he should have refused to play golf with the US President on moral grounds.
Rory McIlroy plays a round with @POTUS Donald Trump in Florida. https://t.co/6Ewj8JUfgI pic.twitter.com/jDdslNk9Rh
— #OTBAM (@OffTheBallAM) February 20, 2017
The White House had to release a statement clarifying why the President was spending so much of his time on the golf course (after McIlroy contradicted their claim that Trump only played a few holes). Now McIlroy has released a statement of his own on Twitter. It reads:
I don't agree with everything my friends or family say or do, but I still play golf with them. Last week, I was invited to play golf with the President of the United States. Whether you respect the person who holds that position or not, you respect the office that he holds. This wasn't an endorsement nor a political statement of any kind. It was, quite simply, a round of golf. Golf was our common ground, nothing else. I've travelled around the world and have been fortunate enough to befriend people from many different countries, beliefs and countries. To be called a fascist and a bigot by some people because I spent time in someone's company is just ridiculous. I hope, to some degree, this clarifies my decision to accept the invitation that was extended to me. Thanks to everyone for your continued support and I look forward to making my comeback in Mexico next week!
— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) February 24, 2017
