Relatively still fresh off a historic second consecutive Masters triumph, Rory McIlroy found himself at the centre of attention once again—this time at a State Dinner in the White House.
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The Northern Irishman attended the prestigious event alongside his wife, Erica Stoll, as guests of U.S. President Donald Trump. The dinner, held in honour of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, brought together political leaders, business figures and a select group of high-profile names, with McIlroy among the standout sporting attendees.
McIlroy’s invitation came just weeks after he successfully defended his Masters title at Augusta National, becoming the first player since Tiger Woods in 2002 to win back-to-back Masters titles. His one-shot victory over world number one Scottie Scheffler marked his sixth major championship.
Despite keeping a relatively low profile since that victory—opting to skip several PGA Tour events, including this week’s Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral… McIlroy could not hide from the spotlight last night.
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During his address, President Trump paused his speech to acknowledge Rory’s achievement.
‘Stand up, Rory. That was unconquerable courage. That was very good, Rory.’
‘I don’t know if that helps them talk about how wonderful the speech (is) but I had to interrupt my speech because I watched that man win a tournament that was tough. That was a tough one. Congratulations. Very proud of you.
‘Alright, now I’ll get back to my speech, Rory.’
Watch it below.
President Trump praises Masters champion Rory McIlroy in toast at White House state dinner: "That was unconquerable courage. That was very good, Rory." pic.twitter.com/kQGkcLp3Bl
— CSPAN (@cspan) April 29, 2026
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