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President Donald Trump took center stage at the Irish Open on Sunday, reveling in a golf tournament at his family’s Doonbeg resort even as his political agenda faces a critical test in November’s midterm elections.

Just days after attending a convention in Dallas to bolster fellow Republicans confronting a tough election, Trump was an ocean away from the campaign trail, watching some of the golf world’s elite compete and personally presenting the trophy to the eventual winner, Shane Lowry.

Trump appeared to take particular pride in seeing an Irish golfer win the tournament in his home country. The president had talked up Lowry throughout his visit and was seen clapping as he played the 18th hole on Sunday to clinch his victory.

Trump said that he had wanted to “stay and watch Shane win, and he did win,” adding that the golfer had shown he could “handle pressure.”

And in a surprise announcement, that drew a roar from the crowd, Trump said during the trophy ceremony that he would remove US tariffs on Irish whiskey — delivering a major trade win to Ireland. Trump credited both Lowry and Irish Prime Minister Taoiseach Micheal Martin for the move, saying they had personally lobbied him during his trip.

The trophy celebration capped a whirlwind two-day visit to Ireland funded by US taxpayers. And while Trump met Martin and President Catherine Connolly, in Dublin, the Open in the west of Ireland dominated his time.

The US president received a rapturous reception from the Doonbeg crowd, walking out Sunday to cheers and applause — a respite from protests elsewhere in Ireland and a break, albeit brief, from a perilous political climate at home.

“Welcome to Ireland, Donald,” one spectator shouted as the president stepped yards away from the first tee on Sunday. Later, as Trump watched, a group of children tried to get his attention, yelling hello at the president. At the trophy ceremony, while some boos were initially heard for Martin, Trump walked up to chants of “USA” and pumped his fist.

Trump has regularly attended high-profile sporting events. Still, the images of him going to a golf tournament in the throes of a midterm race — and just after telling his party faithful he’d campaign more vigorously — threaten to stir doubts about his focus on the election. Past pledges to campaign more aggressively failed to materialize and the president has devoted much of his time — an invaluable resource in Washington — to projects such as a White House ballroom.

Trump’s approval ratings are at record lows with voters unhappy over high consumer costs and the war with Iran. At the convention, he urged voters to act as if he were on the ballot, pointing to his administration’s immigration policy and tax breaks thus far, and pledged a $5,000 dividend for Americans if Republicans hold the House and Senate. With a price tag well over $1 trillion at a time when US public debt is already massive, the proposal was met with bipartisan skepticism over whether it could or should become law.

But Trump also undercut his own efforts, offering a tacit acknowledgement in a Fox News interview that Democrats are likely to control at least one chamber, a result that would hamper his agenda and subject his administration and family to investigations. Less than two months to Election Day, there are worries it may be too late to alter Republicans’ trajectory.

Read more: Trump’s Two Days in Dallas: $5,000 Cash, ‘Socialists’ and Opera

Asked about the impact of having a US president at the tournament, Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy, who won it last year, called it “a good thing,” noting that Trump’s presence “brings more eyeballs to the Irish Open.”

Trump walked out Sunday wearing a white “USA” hat and navy suit, and watched as both Jacob Skov Olesen, a Danish golfer, and Lowry began their final rounds.

After Lowry started his round, Trump took questions from reporters that touched on Ukraine, the Federal Reserve, AI regulation and other matters, but seemed most animated when talking about the tournament.

Asked which golfer at the Open he’d like to play with, Trump said: “Well, right now I’ll take Shane, and I’ll also take Rory, and I’ll also take about 40 others because you know what, they’re great players. They’re all great. Every one of them. It’s amazing.”

Earlier: Trump’s Ireland Visit Puts Dublin’s Charm Strategy to the Test

Trump’s trip to Ireland was also the latest demonstration of how his public duties often mix with his personal interests.

While not a state visit, Trump received a red carpet and honor guard in Dublin, delicate diplomacy from Irish leaders even as polls show he is deeply unpopular in that country. Thousands protested Trump’s visit in Dublin on Saturday.

Trump in a speech to business leaders jabbed at Ireland and Europe broadly over trade, regulation and immigration. And he waded into further controversy by saying he would love to see a unified Ireland. But Irish leaders will likely be pleased with the results of their charm offensive.

Motorcades whisked the president to his Dublin meetings. By midday Saturday, Trump was flying off to Doonbeg, shifting the spotlight on a major property for his family’s business.

The Irish Open was held at the Trump International Golf Links & Hotel in County Clare for the first time, highlighting how the president’s family has long pushed to host high-profile tournaments at their properties. The course, known for its sandy dunes and ocean views, was designed by legendary golfer Greg Norman and opened in 2002, with the lodge following in 2006.

It’s become a key economic driver in Ireland’s rural west. Trump bought the property in 2014, rebranding the estate, in a deal he’s said in interviews took just hours. Doonbeg, a village of almost 300, has welcomed the tourism that brings American golfing enthusiasts to the town.