Mcllroy doesn’t attend Trump’s golden statue reveal at the PGA tour

April 29, 2026 Aksel Kryhlmand

The PGA Tour makes its anticipated return to Doral this week for the inaugural Cadillac Championship, marking the first time the tour has visited the iconic Miami course since 2016. The event is set against a striking backdrop: a towering 22-foot gold statue of former US President Donald Trump, recently erected on the grounds of his Blue Monster course.

A golden monument for the Blue Monster

The imposing statue depicts Trump on a pedestal, his fist raised in the air, a pose that mirrors his public reaction following a July 2024 assassination attempt in Pennsylvania. The monument is a prominent feature as players arrive for the tournament, with Trump himself potentially attending the event, according to Telegraph Media Group Holdings Ltd, cited by Independent

The creation of the statue was not without its own drama. Sculptor Alan Cottrill was commissioned in August, with reports indicating that crypto group $PATRIOT funded the work, paying Cottrill $360,000. However, the sculptor initially refused to release the artwork amid a dispute over cryptocurrency. Cottrill accused the group of copyright infringement, claiming they used the statue's likeness to sell tokens. An agreement was eventually reached, paving the way for the statue's installation at the Blue Monster course.

PGA Tour returns, but without McIlroy

While the Cadillac Championship signals the PGA Tour's return to Doral after an eight-year absence, it is notably missing some of the world’s top players, including the recently crowned Masters champion, Rory McIlroy.

McIlroy's absence from the Doral event comes shortly after he was publicly lauded by Donald Trump at a White House State Dinner. The dinner, held in honour of King Charles and Queen Camilla, saw Trump interrupt his own speech to pay tribute to McIlroy, who was in attendance following his second consecutive Masters victory at Augusta.

"The entire world has been uplifted by this distinct and special character we share. This unstoppable daring. This unconquerable courage. It really is unconquerable ... speaking of that, where’s Rory McIlroy? Stand up, Rory. That was unconquerable courage. That was very good, Rory," Trump declared during his address. "I had to interrupt my speech because I watched that man win a tournament that was tough. That was a tough one. Congratulations. Very proud of you. Alright, now I’ll get back to my speech, Rory."

Despite the former president's high praise, McIlroy will not be competing on Trump's course this week. The statue, however, has already become a talking point among those who are. When asked about potentially posing with the golden effigy, golfer Rickie Fowler quipped, "It’s going to make me look smaller than I already am."

Sources: www.independent.ie