Rory McIlroy has held conversations with The Masters chairman Fred Ridley about ensuring that winners of the Irish Open get exemptions for Augusta.The Northern Irishman is looking to defend his crown at the Doonbeg course in County Clare this week.McIlroy is a huge advocate for the national opensGettyMcIlroy sealed the second Irish Open title of his career last year with a play-off victory over Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren.And speaking ahead of his title defence, he revealed conversations with Ridley over the possibility of winners of certain national opens across the world don’t have to qualify for The Masters going forward happened.Speaking in a press conference about support for that, he said: “What do you think?“Of course. I spoke to Chairman Ridley about this a lot and I really applaud their dedication to international golf and getting behind some of the international opens.“Obviously the Asia-Pacific Amateur, the Latin America Amateur Championship, they have done great jobs with them and it gives these exemptions to these larger National Opens.“I would certainly sit there and argue the Irish Open’s case with Fred all day. I think, hopefully, at some point, it’s inevitable that that would become a reality.”The Irish Open is a special competition for McIlroy, who said on his victory last year: “I got two bites of the cherry coming home last year with Portrush hosting The Open and everything and the Irish Open.“I really wanted to treat, I guess, both weeks like a celebration of the year and everything that I had achieved last year. And I started off the week at the Irish Open last year doing something in the tented village with all the fans and green jacket and major trophies.“If you can’t feel good about your golf game going into a tournament after something like that — it was a nice confidence boost. It was incredible last year. Needing three at the last to get into the play-off and the scenes on the last and everything… Yeah, it was an incredible week.“With the way that the year transpired, going into that back end of of the season, if there was one tournament that I could have chosen to win, it would be that one. McIlroy very much and picks and chooses his events these days, but this one means a lot to himGetty“It was a magical weekend, and obviously the scenes of the celebrations and dads and sons hugging each other – it was very fulfilling and I’m glad I got the opportunity to be a part of it.”Trump in attendanceAs well as McIlroy taking centre-stage this week, US president Donald Trump will be there.That is because he owns the Doonbeg course, nestled on the west Irish coastline.Trump is a huge golf fan and has several courses all around the world, and wherever he ends up, he always garners plenty of media attention.McIlroy is well aware of that as well, saying: “I think when the sitting President of the United States of America visits anywhere, it becomes a logistical challenge. There’s a lot that goes into it.“They obviously have to lock down a specific area and make sure that it’s safe for him to travel into, and the entire delegation, whoever that is. “Logistically, it provides a bit of a challenge but we are at one of his properties that he has kindly provided for us to play a golf tournament.“I said yesterday, the president of the United States wants to come watch a little bit of golf. I think we are all happy to be here, grateful to be here.“His presence at the Irish Open makes it a truly international event. That brings more attention and eyeballs to the Irish Open, and it can only be a good thing.”