The 2026 Amgen Irish Open ended with an unusual combination of golf and politics. U.S. President Donald Trump presented the Waterford crystal trophy to Shane Lowry at Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg after the Irishman completed a record 11-stroke victory.
Video showed Trump carefully handling the large trophy before presenting it to Lowry. Some online coverage characterized the exchange as awkward, but major reports focused primarily on Lowry’s historic performance and Trump’s unexpected announcement that he intended to remove U.S. tariffs on Irish whiskey.
The ceremony attracted added attention because it took place at a Trump-owned resort during the president’s visit to Ireland. It followed a weekend that also included political meetings, protests, and controversial remarks about Irish reunification.
Trump presents Lowry with the trophy at Doonbeg
During Sunday’s trophy ceremony, Trump carefully lifted the large Waterford crystal award from its display before presenting it to Lowry. Video of the ceremony shows the two men handling the trophy together and posing for photographs on the 18th green.
Some online reports described Trump as struggling with the trophy’s size, weight or balance. However, primary video descriptions from Reuters and RTÉ say that he raised and presented the trophy; they do not report that he dropped it or lost control of it.
The presentation took place at Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg, the Trump-owned resort that hosted the Irish Open for the first time in 2026.
Lowry completes a record 11-stroke victory
Shane Lowry dominated the Amgen Irish Open, closing with a 7-under 63 to finish at 23-under 257. He defeated runners-up Patrick Reed and Joaquin Niemann by 11 strokes, breaking the tournament’s previous winning-margin record of 10 set by Bernhard Langer in 1987.
It was Lowry’s second Irish Open title, 17 years after he won the tournament as an amateur in 2009. It was also his first individual professional victory since the 2022 BMW PGA Championship.
Lowry’s victory margin was an Irish Open record, not an all-time DP World Tour record. The Irish golfer previously won the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush.
Video captures the Waterford trophy presentation
Video of the presentation circulated online after Trump handed the Irish Open trophy to Lowry. The footage shows Trump lifting the large crystal award and the two men handling it together before posing for photographs.
The trophy was created by Waterford, which has produced golf trophies for more than 40 years. The current Irish Open design was introduced in 2022 and is made entirely from Waterford crystal.
No reliable source reviewed for this fact-check provided the trophy’s weight, verified specific view totals across X, or established what Lowry was thinking based on his facial expression.
Reunification remarks add to the weekend
During a September 12 appearance in Dublin, Trump said he would “love” to see a united Ireland and described reunification as a “fantastic thing.” His remarks departed from the traditional U.S. position of neutrality on Northern Ireland’s constitutional status.
The comments drew criticism from the British government, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, and Democratic Unionist Party representatives. Under the Good Friday Agreement, Northern Ireland’s status can change only with the consent of its people through a referendum.
Trump repeated his position at Doonbeg on September 13, saying that placing Northern Ireland and the Republic together appeared natural to him. He therefore reinforced rather than softened his original remarks.
Trump receives cheers and scattered boos
Trump received a largely favorable but not unanimous reception when he walked onto the 18th green. Some spectators chanted “USA,” prompting him to pump his fist, while scattered boos could also be heard.
Reports from the course described the cheers as stronger than the boos. Trump then praised Lowry’s performance, presented the trophy and announced his intention to remove the tariff on Irish whiskey.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin attended the final round and trophy ceremony. His presence connected the sporting occasion with the political and trade discussions held during Trump’s visit.
Doonbeg’s transformation under Trump ownership
The Trump Organization acquired the financially troubled Doonbeg resort in 2014 for a reported €15 million, approximately $20 million at the exchange rate at the time. The property had entered receivership shortly before the purchase.
The family subsequently invested tens of millions of euros in the resort, including course redesign work and hotel expansion. The 2026 Amgen Irish Open was the first DP World Tour event staged at the property.
Doonbeg is derived from the Irish “Dún Beag,” meaning “small fort.” The links course runs beside the Atlantic Ocean and provides ocean views from 16 of its 18 holes.
Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles has a 45,000-square-foot clubhouse and extensive Pacific Ocean views. The club’s official information identifies 2 principal restaurants, not 4 separate dining facilities.
Little-known fact: Trump National Golf Club in Los Angeles has a 45,000-square-foot clubhouse with four separate dining facilities, all overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island.
What the moment means overall
The Irish Open weekend brought professional golf, presidential politics and trade policy together at a Trump-owned resort. The trophy presentation received attention online, but Lowry’s record victory and Trump’s whiskey-tariff announcement generated the most substantial coverage.
Lowry’s performance remains the central sporting achievement. He finished at 23 under and won by an Irish Open-record 11 strokes, surpassing the previous tournament margin record set by Bernhard Langer in 1987.
During the ceremony, Trump praised Lowry and announced his intention to remove the 10% U.S. tariff on Irish whiskey. Claims that the trophy exchange prompted meaningful health speculation or became a worldwide viral story are not supported by reliable reporting.
TL;DR
- Trump presented the large Waterford crystal Irish Open trophy to Shane Lowry after carefully lifting it from its display.
- Lowry won by an Irish Open record 11 strokes, securing his first individual professional title since 2022.
- Trump announced his intention to remove the 10% U.S. tariff on Irish whiskey, although no implementation date was specified.
- He repeated his support for Irish reunification after the remarks drew criticism from British and Northern Irish unionist politicians.
- Trump received a largely favorable reception at the ceremony, including “USA” chants, a fist pump and scattered boos.
If you liked this story, don’t forget to follow us for more exclusive content.
This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
If you liked this, you might also like:
