Paul McGinley tees off with Donald Trump as US President opens new course in Scotland
More than 40 big names in the golf business world, as well as former footballers Robbie Fowler, Jim Leighton, Gianfranco Zola, and Andrei Shevchenko, teed it up at the venue, which is one of 15 Trump golf properties.
McGinley recently expressed his disappointment that Trump-owned Turnberry is currently out in the cold when it comes to The Open rota.
Speaking on the Indo Sport Podcast, McGinley said: "I think the best course is Turnberry and I think it's a real shame that we're not playing it."
He added: "I know people have a lot of views on Trump, but I'll tell you what, he's done a hell of a job with the work he has done in Turnberry."
Trump also owns Doonbeg, which is just 20 miles from Lahinch, where McGinley was host when it staged the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open in 2019.
The Clare venue is understood to be on track to host the Amgen Irish Open next year.
US pharmaceutical giants Horizon Therapeutics took over as Irish Open sponsors in 2022 with a deal to back the event until 2027.
Horizon was subsequently acquired by Amgen, an American multinational biopharmaceutical company, in 2023.
Amgen, which has major pharmaceutical manufacturing plants in Ireland, took over the sponsorship of the Irish Open, which will be held at The K Club in September.
Golfers Pádraig Harrington, Shane Lowry, Séamus Power and Brendan Lawlor are ambassadors for Amgen, which could be seriously affected by President Trump's trade war.
As the Irish Independent reported this week, there is confusion in Government and the EU about what products will be covered by the baseline 15pc tariff, which activates on Friday following the US trade deal.
It is still unclear if pharmaceuticals, which are critical to the Irish economy, will be included in the 15pc bracket or if they could yet be hit with a higher levy.
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