RORY MCILROY HAS moved to downplay the significance of his round with US President Donald Trump by this evening releasing a statement insisting that golf was the common ground, and nothing else.

Source: PA

The Northern Irishman accepted an offer from Trump, a keen golfer, to join him for a round at the Trump International Golf Club in Florida last weekend.

McIlroy, who is currently recovering from a rib injury, has come in for criticism from some quarters but has attempted to defuse the situation by saying that it was in no way an endorsement of Trump or any sort of political statement.

In a statement released on his Twitter account, the 27-year-old said:

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