Rory McIlroy was somewhat taken aback by the criticism he received for playing a round of golf with Donald Trump, but he does understand why.
The world number three will make his comeback this week, following time out due to a rib injury, at a World Golf Championship event in Mexico.
McIlroy spoke about his round of golf with the US President, which happened 10 days ago, in a press conference broadcast on the PGA Tour's Facebook page.
McIlroy said that once he received the request from Trump, he felt he had no choice but to say yes.
I was just doing what I felt was respectful. The President of the United States phones you up and wants to play golf with you, I wasn't going to say no.
I don't agree with everything he says but it is what it is. I'm not an American. I can't vote. Even if I could vote I don't think I would have.
I actually enjoyed myself. I had a good time. I'm sorry if I pissed people off but I felt I was in a position where I couldn't really do anything but say yes. Respect the office even if you don't respect the guy that's in it.
I just approached it as a round of golf. Putting anyone's beliefs or politics to one side for a minute, to go there and see 30 secret service and 30 cops and snipers in the trees, it was just a surreal experience for me to see something like that.
It's not as if we were talking foreign policy out there. We were talking golf.
You can watch McIlroy's press conference below.
