Trump loves the game of golf and takes pride in his relationships with some of the pros

DUBLIN (AP) — It's no secret that President Donald Trump loves the game of golf. He likes to watch, play, include pros in his foursomes and even design courses. He also isn't shy about his friendships with the pros.

He also isn't shy about his friendships with the pros.Trump is spending the weekend at his golf resort in the village of Doonbeg, Ireland, where he is watching the Irish Open being played there. Irish golfer Shane Lowry held a four-stroke lead going into Sunday’s final day of competition.Trump's friend, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, said golf is one of the things the president does for fun.“The president works all day, every day. And there are two things that he does for enjoyment," Lutnick told reporters recently.

"He plays golf on the weekend and he builds. He loves to build.”And Trump has built friendships with some of the pros, and he's proud of it. He name drops and lavishes praise on them whenever he talks about them.“I have so many friends that are professional, top professional golfers,” Trump told Fox News Channel's “The Five” earlier this year.

He then named Rory McIlroy,Tiger Woods,Bryson DeChambeau and Scottie Scheffler, among them.He also posts pictures on social media of him with pro golfers after their rounds. Trump has given awards to some and invited them to the White House. Others are helping him redesign Washington-area golf courses.Here's some of what Trump has had to say about them.Bryson DeChambeauTrump said DeChambeau is among the “great pros.” The two have played together and DeChambeau has appeared at the White House.

Open title in 2020 at one of Trump’s golf properties in New York. Last year, he was chosen as the chairperson of Trump’s reconstituted version of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition, an advisory committee.Ernie ElsThe South African pro golfer was in the Oval Office in May 2025 as part of the delegation accompanying Cyril Ramaphosa, his country's president, to a meeting with Trump. Fellow South African golfer Retief Goosen was also part of the group.“Ernie Els is a great golfer.

He's a truly great golfer and Retief Goosen, who's another really — we call him really a great golfer, too, Ernie, right?” Trump said. “These two guys are fantastic, and we could add Gary to the group, Gary Player. What a group of golfers South Africa has had.