Trump Presents Irish Open Trophy to Lowry, Vows to Scrap Whiskey Tariff
Shane Lowry stormed to an 11-shot win at the Irish Open as Donald Trump presented the trophy and said he would lift the 10% tariff on Irish whiskey.
US President Donald Trump presented the Irish Open trophy to Shane Lowry at Doonbeg on Sunday, capping a dominant home victory with a surprise announcement that he intends to remove the 10% tariff on Irish whiskey.
Lowry seized control early, carding four birdies in his opening eight holes — including a 45-foot putt over a ridge at the seventh — before pulling away in front of a roaring gallery at Trump International Ireland. He closed at 23-under 257, seven strokes better than the previous 72-hole tournament record of 264 set by Jon Rahm at Lahinch in 2019.
His 11-shot margin over Patrick Reed (64) and Joaquin Niemann (67) was the largest in Irish Open history, eclipsing the one-shot record of 10 set by Bernhard Langer at Portmarnock in 1987.
Speaking at the presentation, Trump said he had been lobbied on the tariff question by the Taoiseach, by Lowry and by others. "Everybody's been bugging me" to act, he said, adding: "And I said, on behalf of the United States of America, I am going to take the tariffs off" Irish whiskey. The remark drew loud whistling and cheers from spectators. No timeline for the move was immediately available.
Irish whiskey currently carries the standard tariff the US applies to most European Union imports, which was cut from 15% to 10% in July. In May, Trump had announced he was lifting certain tariffs on UK whiskey, a category covering Scotch and spirits produced in Northern Ireland.
Trump also reflected on his decision to remain in Ireland for the final round, saying he had been due to depart that morning but chose to stay and watch Lowry win after spending time with the golfer the previous evening. He described the event as an honour for his son Eric and the wider Trump family, and thanked Doonbeg and the country for their hospitality.
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin said the past four days had showcased the enduring ties between Ireland and the United States, describing the occasion as a joyous and celebratory sporting event that reflected a relationship bound by history, family and friendship.