Former world No. 1 Rory McIlroy has revealed his fascination with U.S. Donald Trump after playing a round of golf with the American leader last weekend here in Florida.

McIlroy was the third top-ranked golfer to join Trump on the fairways since being voted President late last year.

Trump had played with Tiger Woods just prior to Christmas and last fortnight it was Ernie Els turn.

Rory and Donald Trump catch up again last weekend at Trump International.

“I really got into it once Trump ran because I knew him a little bit but at the same time I was intrigued how a successful businessman could transition into running for the highest office in the land,” McIlroy told good friend and colleague Ewan Murray of the Guardian on Friday.

“I’ve said it to the man himself; on a Tuesday night at a tournament, if there was a live (political) debate, I would get room service, stick on CNN and just watch. It was pure entertainment, even if you didn’t understand politics it was this complete phenomenon.

“Something like this probably won’t happen again in our lifetime. I’m very attuned to it, I watch a lot of news. You can’t avoid it. I had no interest in politics until a couple of years ago; now I can’t seem to get away from it.

“I feel like I’ve stayed unpolitical in terms of Northern Ireland and all that goes on there but because I’m not an American I don’t feel a real part of it; I’m just interested by the phenomenon of it all.

“I don’t really care about the policies. The whole circus, this big show is intriguing to watch.”

Of course, there was that moment a few years ago when Trump walked onto the Trump Doral course to return McIlroy’s iron that McIlroy had tossed into a lake on the ‘Blue Monster’ course during the staging of the WGC – Cadillac Championship.

McIlroy donated the club back to Trump and it’s now mounted in the pro shop.