Donald Trump has spoken out after Shane Lowry produced a stunning performance to win the 2026 Irish Open in record breaking fashion at Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg.
Lowry delivered one of the most dominant performances in the history of the tournament, finishing 23 under par and winning by an extraordinary 11 shots.
The victory was made even more significant by the fact that it came on home soil, in front of a huge Irish crowd and with Trump himself watching the action from the course.
Trump was in Ireland for a brief visit and made his way to his Doonbeg resort during the tournament. He watched the final round and later had the honour of presenting Lowry with the Irish Open trophy after the Irishman completed his remarkable victory. (Reuters)
Lowry had already built a four shot advantage going into the final round, but few could have predicted just how far he would pull away from the chasing pack.
The Irishman produced another outstanding round of seven under par 63 to finish the tournament at 23 under. His final round included four birdies in his opening eight holes and he continued to build on his advantage as the rest of the field struggled to keep pace.
By the time Lowry reached the closing holes, the contest was effectively over.
His 11 shot victory broke the previous record winning margin at the Irish Open, making the achievement one of the biggest moments of his career.
For Trump, who owns the Doonbeg resort where the tournament was staged, the result provided a spectacular ending to his time at the event.
The American president has long been a major follower of golf and has developed relationships with several of the sport’s biggest names. His presence at Doonbeg attracted significant attention throughout the weekend, but once the final round began, much of the focus shifted towards Lowry’s incredible performance. (AP News)
Trump praised Lowry’s performance and also spoke warmly about the Irish golfer and the quality of the golf he had produced.
The victory was particularly impressive because Lowry was not simply able to hold onto his lead. Instead, he continued attacking and increased the gap between himself and his closest challengers.
Patrick Reed and Joaquin Niemann finished tied for second, but both were left 11 shots behind the eventual champion. (Reuters)
Lowry’s victory also carried plenty of personal meaning.
The 39 year old had not won an individual tournament on the PGA Tour or DP World Tour since his victory at the 2022 BMW PGA Championship. His Irish Open triumph therefore ended a lengthy wait for another individual title.
It was also a remarkable return to the tournament where he made history as an amateur.
Lowry first won the Irish Open in 2009, when he famously claimed the title as an amateur. Seventeen years later, he returned to the winner’s circle as a professional and did it in spectacular fashion.
His four rounds told the story of his dominance.
He opened with a 67, followed it with a course record 62, carded a 65 in the third round and then closed with another 63.
That gave him a four round total of 257 and a tournament score of 23 under par.
The course record he established during the second round was eventually followed by another superb performance on Sunday, showing just how comfortable Lowry had become around the Doonbeg layout.
The home support also played a major role in creating the atmosphere around the tournament.
Irish fans followed Lowry throughout the week and became increasingly vocal as his lead grew. By Sunday, the crowd knew they were witnessing something special.
Trump was among those watching as Lowry completed the final holes, and the American was waiting at the end to present him with the trophy.
The trophy presentation provided one of the most memorable images of the tournament, with Lowry celebrating his historic victory while Trump stood alongside him.
For Lowry, the moment capped a remarkable week in which he had overcome the pressure of playing his national open in front of a home crowd.
The victory also came after a number of recent disappointments. Lowry had been close to winning earlier in the season but had failed to convert those opportunities.
This time, however, there was no collapse.
Instead, he produced four outstanding rounds and turned the Irish Open into a one man show.
Trump’s presence added another unusual element to the tournament.
His arrival at Doonbeg had already attracted plenty of attention, with his helicopter landing at the resort during Saturday’s play. Trump watched from around the 18th green alongside members of his family and several prominent figures from the golfing world. (TheJournal.ie)
He also had interactions with some of the biggest names competing in the tournament, including Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed.
But by the end of the week, it was Lowry who had captured everyone’s attention.
The Irishman’s 11 shot victory was so dominant that the players behind him were effectively competing for second place during the final round.
For Trump, it was an ideal sporting conclusion to his visit to Doonbeg.
His resort had hosted a historic Irish Open, the home favourite had won, and the tournament ended with Trump personally handing Lowry the trophy.
Lowry’s victory also gave Irish golf fans another unforgettable moment to celebrate.
Winning the Irish Open once is an achievement. Winning it twice, 17 years apart, and doing so with an 11 shot winning margin is something else entirely.
And after watching the performance unfold at his Doonbeg course, Trump made his appreciation for Lowry’s display clear.
The final image of Trump presenting the trophy to Lowry perfectly captured the extraordinary week.
Lowry had arrived with the pressure of a home crowd, produced some of the best golf of his career
