Donald Trump has returned Rory McIlroy’s 3-iron to the World No. 1 nearly two days after McIlroy sent the club into the depths of one of the many lakes at Trump International Doral.
A scuba diver retrieved the $200 Nike Vapor club from it’s watery grave yesterday.
Trump was on the practice range around 12.45pm with the club and after chatting with South Korean Sangmoon Bae he walked to where McIlroy was hitting balls ahead of his 1.25pm tee time.
McIlroy seeing Trump holding the club walked over to meet the American billionaire businessman ahead of returning the club into the bag.
Despite a replacement 3-iron arriving on Saturday McIlroy elected to compete on day three with 13 clubs.
However with the club having been in the water for at least a day it would be surprising if McIlroy teed off with the club in his bag.
“We had thought of either auctioning the club or sticking it in a trophy case here at Doral but then after talking with Rory we will get it framed,” said Trump.
“It was as such a big thing. It was over television, it was the biggest story Rory throwing the club.
“And an even bigger story was the scuba diver coming up and holding it up, I don’t know where this guy came from but he was central casting. So, we will probably mount it and hang it at Doral.
“The club repsents something. It was the biggest sports story for two days, first the throw and then the scuba diver. He has become world famous.”
And golf-mad Trump was quizzed if he’s ever thrown a golf club and remarking: “Too many, none in that lake. That lake escaped. That hole is so hard I assume I am going to be in the water. There is no big surprise. It has been a great tournament.
“But then Rory’s a great star, a great athlete, a great player and anything he does is news. It is not like him but again he did it with great style and I said, it was a great thing that you did it, because it shows a certain human touch.
“He’s a fantastic person, really is. He was very thankful, nice to have 14 clubs in the bag, i was surprised he didn’t throw a wedge in there.”
PROVIDENT AT BLUE MIAMI DORAL – OUR PREFERRED HOTEL THIS WEEK
Our preferred accommodation this week has been the superb Provident at Blue Miami Doral.
