Northern Ireland’s First Minister, Peter Robinson along with his deputy, Martin McGuinness were guests yesterday on day three of the UBS Hong Kong Open.

Northern Ireland First Minister, Peter Robinson – looking for Rory McIlroy on day three of the UBS Hong Kong Open .

Robinson and McGuinness, who are also keen golfers, are present in Hong Kong and China leading a trade mission from Northern Ireland.

However the one person they expected to meet at the Hong Kong Golf Club was not a bunch of Tour officials or sponsor representatives but World No. 1 golfer, Rory McIlroy.

But with McIlroy missing the cut with a five over par tally it was probably better off he was already in Dubai rather than have his photo taken with the Northern Ireland Government’s leading two politicians given the controversy McIlroy has been trying to avoid over whether he will represent Ireland or Northern Ireland in the 2016 Olympics.

The visit of Robinson and McGuinness was kept hush, hush and with no courtesy word of their visit provided to two members of the European Tour media present this week at the event who between them write for five Irish newspapers.

And while Robinson and McGuinness missed out on seeing McIlroy so too did a group of fans who had gone to the expense of getting t-shirts printed that said:  “Go Rory!”

But after McIlroy four-putted his 18th green on Friday the group hurriedly had the t-shirts changed to read:  “Gone Rory!”.