Rory McIlroy Archives

CELEB NEWS

Amanda Balionis asks Rory McIlroy about happiness and his respo

By Admin September 11, 2025

Amanda Balionis has picked up on a shift in Rory McIlroy’s mental game following his Masters triumph.

All eyes were on McIlroy at the start of the season, with many wondering if he could redeem himself after falling short to Bryson DeChambeau at the U.S. Open and what his overall performance would be like this year. The 35-year-old golfer kicked off the year with a bang, clinching victories in three tournaments, including the prestigious Players Championship and the Masters, joining an elite group of only six players to achieve the career Grand Slam.

McIlroy’s early victories and his apparent conquering of past struggles have led to a noticeable change in his demeanor, something that Balionis observed. In a conversation with the Northern Irishman and his Zurich Classic partner Shane Lowry, the CBS Sports journalist inquired about McIlroy’s current mindset given his impressive start to the season.

JUST IN: Ex-US Open finalist was engaged to Rory McIlroy before he called

“Trevor Immelman said this is the most relaxed and the happiest he’s maybe ever seen you in your career,” she started. Initially, McIlroy responded with a touch of evasion, while Lowry chimed in humorously, suggesting that if McIlroy wasn’t content now, he “never will be.”

But upon reflection, McIlroy acknowledged: “Yeah, look, I mean, after the last couple of weeks and what happened at Augusta, I think coming here, you know, Shane asked me right after the Masters whether I wanted to still play here this week.

“I said, absolutely. It’s such a perfect way to sort of, you know, get back into the swing of things and, you know, being here with my man and trying to defend a title is pretty cool. But yeah, no, we have a lot of fun out there and obviously that was a great way to finish.

As it stands, Lowry and McIlroy are in the thick of it, vying for a top spot as they head into Sunday’s final round in New Orleans. McIlroy has been open about altering his tournament mindset, thanks to guidance from sports psychologist Dr. Bob Rotella.

Before his Masters victory, McIlroy shared insights on his work with Rotella, particularly during last year’s tough times. “The one thing I feel like would help me to get over the line at Augusta was really trying to focus on – we both work with [sports psychologist Dr] Bob Rotella,” he explained.

“But basically, the one thing I try to do after the end of every round is look myself in the mirror and say, ‘That’s how I want to feel when I play golf.’ If that’s my goal for the rest of my career and I can go after every round and I can look in the mirror and I can say that to myself, then the results will take care of themselves.”

With triumphs at the Players Championship and the Masters already in his pocket, it’s evident that McIlroy’s perspective has shifted significantly, a transformation that hasn’t gone unnoticed by Balionis and other golf aficionados who see him playing with a newfound ease.

Keep Reading

CELEB NEWS

Ex-US Open finalist was engaged to Rory McIlroy before he called

By Admin September 11, 2025

Rory McIlroy cancelled his wedding to former US Open finalist Caroline Wozniacki just days after sending out invitations.

McIlroy had been in a relationship with the Danish tennis star for three years before brutally ending things via a phonecall in 2014.

The golfer, who is currently tied for third at the Irish Open, had popped the question to Wozniacki on New Year’s Eve in 2013. The duo were regarded as a sporting power couple, with McIlroy’s golfing triumphs matched by future Australian Open champion Wozniacki, who also made it to the 2009 and 2014 US Open finals. Yet as their big day got closer, McIlroy realised he wasn’t ready to marry Wozniacki. The Times reported that McIlroy had ended their engagement during a brief three-minute conversation, with the golfer later explaining what had triggered his abrupt change of mind.

READ: Charlie Woods undergoes drastic body transformation as son of gol

“There is no right way to end a relationship that has been so important to two people,” McIlroy said in May 2014, as per the Daily Mail. “The problem is mine.

“The wedding invitations issued at the weekend made me realise that I wasn’t ready for all that marriage entails. I wish Caroline all the happiness she deserves and thank her for the great times we’ve had. I will not be saying anything more about our relationship in any setting.”

Ahead of facing Williams in the 2014 US Open final, Wozniacki gave her version of events: “I was shocked. I thought at least it would be face to face or something but there was nothing. It was a phone call and I didn’t hear from him again,” she told the In Depth with Graham Bensinger show.

“It was very hard because he made it very public from the start. He put out a press release and all of that so it just got put in my face.”

In 2015, McIlroy started dating Erica Stoll, a PGA employee he had met during the 2012 Ryder Cup. The pair became engaged later that year and wed in a ceremony at Ashford Castle in County Mayo in 2017. They welcomed their daughter Poppy in 2020.

Looking back on his previous relationship with Wozniacki, McIlroy revealed why he felt they wouldn’t have been compatible long-term. “I thought at the time that being with someone that was in a similar position to you was the obvious answer,” he told the Irish Independent in 2017.

“But it isn’t, because you can never get away from it. You can never detach yourself and try to come back to the real world.”

The split ultimately proved beneficial for both sporting legends. Wozniacki is now married to former NBA star David Lee, having wed in 2019, and they share three children together.

Last year, McIlroy and Stoll filed for divorce. However, they reconciled in June 2024, with McIlroy telling The Guardian: “Over the past weeks, Erica and I have realised that our best future was as a family together. Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning.”

This year, McIlroy celebrated a career Grand Slam after finally clinching the Masters in April, an event Wozniacki also attended. After initially struggling post-victory, the 36-year-old has shown signs of a return to form at the Irish Open.

On Friday, McIlroy scored six-under-par at the K Club, putting him in contention on seven-under. The Masters champion is currently trailing five shots behind leader Joakim Lagergren, with two rounds left in County Kildare.

Meanwhile, Wozniacki will likely be watching the US Open finals this weekend. Reigning champion Aryna Sabalenka is set to face American Amanda Anisimova for the women’s title tonight, while Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will vie for the men’s championship on Sunday.

Keep Reading

GOLF

Rory McIlroy’s Bold Walker Cup Message Sparks Ryder Cup Wa

By Admin September 9, 2025

Rory McIlroy’s Bold Walker Cup Message Sparks Ryder Cup Warning

Fresh off an iconic victory at the Irish Open on Sunday, Rory McIlroy is making headlines not just for his golf but for the fire within. The Northern Irishman claimed his second Irish Open title at The K Club, sinking a clutch birdie in a playoff against Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren.

The win, which earned McIlroy $1.02 million, came just weeks before the Ryder Cup kicks off at Bethpage Black, and it’s clear he’s already in full battle mode.

READ: Rory McIlroy in disbelief at heart-stopping moment before

That also came through loud and clear in a motivational video McIlroy sent to the Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup team ahead of their showdown with Team USA at Cypress Point.

In the video, McIlroy reflected on his own amateur days and the sting of losing the Walker Cup in 2007.

“As someone who played a Walker Cup and wasn’t able to quite get it done, and then to go on to play Ryder Cups and be able to beat the Yanks in their own backyard, nothing feels better,” stated the Green Jacket winner, as quoted by Sports Illustrated.

McIlroy didn’t stop there.

“Please beat them (Team USA) because I know we’re going to beat them at Bethpage,” he added, sending a bold warning to Keegan Bradley’s squad.

Though the GB&I squad couldn’t pull off the upset, falling 17–9 to the Americans, the message from McIlroy made some noise.

Meanwhile, Team USA’s Walker Cup win got more thrilling with a surprise appearance from Bryson DeChambeau. The LIV Golf star, who will represent the U.S. at Bethpage, showed up at Cypress Point to support the amateur squad.

DeChambeau also delivered a pep talk Saturday night that captain Nathan Smith credited for energizing the team.

Keep Reading

GOLF

Rory McIlroy in disbelief at heart-stopping moment before

By Admin September 8, 2025

Rory McIlroy in disbelief at heart-stopping moment before winning Irish Open play-off

Rory McIlroy has become a two-time Irish Open champion following a dramatic play-off victory over Joakim Lagergren.

The pair could not be separated for the first two play-off holes, but it was Lagergren who lost his composure on the third when his ball bounced off the green and trickled into the water.

JUST IN: Pressure Mounts on Tiger Woods as PGA Tour’s Flailing Fall Stretc

McIlroy, who missed his lengthy putt for eagle, made no mistake to finish with a birdie.

Unfortunately for Lagergren, he fizzed his effort beyond the hole to hand McIlroy the victory.

It was McIlroy’s first win since he completed the career grand slam in April when he won the Masters which, coincidentally, was also via a nerve-jangling play-off against Justin Rose.

Not only that, but he secured a tidy pay day of $1.02million (£755,130).

McIlroy’s reaction to winning play-off

“I love coming home, I love playing in this atmosphere,” McIlroy told Sky Sports.

“Moments like this, these are the things as you’re going to remember well after your career is over.

“This is a really special day.”

McIlroy’s victory at the K Club in Saffran couldn’t have come at a better time as it gives the Northern Irishman plenty of momentum heading into the Ryder Cup, which begins on September 26 at Bethpage Black in New York.

McIlroy’s all-time shot forced play-off

The 36-year-old’s triumph was also achieved in rather improbable circumstances given he arrived at the 18th hole during the final round knowing he needed an eagle or better to stay alive.

That’s because of Lagergren’s brilliance on the final stretch, as he recorded an eagle on the par-five 16th and then a birdie on the par-five 18th to finish the final round at the Irish Open on -17.

But McIlroy, who has so often proved he has ice in his veins, delivered just that with a staggering 27-foot putt to secure the necessary eagle on the 18th to force a play-off against Lagergren.

It was the perfect hole from McIlroy, as a 340-yard drive off the tee box was followed by a stunning 192-yard shot onto the green.

McIlroy’s final-hole eagle continued what had been a dazzling final round which included an improbable putt that lipped around the entire hole before it fell in.

As he set up for a putt on the par-four 13th, the Northern Irishman was locked in a four-way tie for first place at the K Club.

But one heart-stopping tap of the ball later and he had the lead all to himself.

McIlroy’s dream putt sends commentators wild

McIlroy, who was putting for a birdie, sent the ball towards the hole and instantly would have thought his chance to nudge ahead of the pack was gone when it lipped around.

But, in the most remarkable of circumstances, the ball dropped in to hand McIlroy a vital birdie and the outright lead.

As the crowd roared in approval, McIlroy didn’t quite know how to initially react as he stood frozen in time.

After the camera panned to the patrons at the K Club, it returned to McIlroy who was now hunched over and wore a look of utter disbelief on his face.

One commentator said: “Stop it!”

Another commentator replied: “A little McIlroy magic right there.”

Sky Sports’ Paul McGinley added: “I think the crowd blew it in. Is that the little bit of luck and the break that you need, at the right time, of a tournament?”

McIlroy’s remarkable putt took his score for the overall tournament to -15.

Unfortunately for McIlroy, his time at the top of the leaderboard in the final round didn’t last long.

How McIlroy’s rival snatched lead off of Northern Irishman

Swedish star Lagergren took the lead for himself when he produced a stunning eagle on the par-five 16th to improve his score to -16 with only two holes remaining in his final round.

After a solid tee shot which put him on the fairway, Lagergren fired the ball 266 yards onto the green, leaving only a five-inch putt between him and the lead.

The Swede showed all the composure in the world to drain the putt as he assumed first place.

Lagergren then extended his lead with a birdie on the par-five 18th to all but seal the title, or so he thought as McIlroy pulled off the improbable.

Keep Reading

BOXING

Rory McIlroy kicks off Ryder Cup mind games with brave 13-word message

By Admin September 7, 2025

Rory McIlroy delivered a stirring rallying cry to the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup squad, and it wasn’t simply about spurring on those budding amateurs.

McIlroy, who recently voiced his thoughts on a venue owned by Donald Trump, emphasised what could be accomplished at the Ryder Cup, issuing an unmistakable gauntlet: “Please beat them because I know we’re going to beat them at Bethpage.”

This transcended mere encouragement. It was a declaration, one rooted in McIlroy’s own journey from Walker Cup disappointment to Ryder Cup glory. McIlroy’s rallying cry came through video for the GB&I team just before their showdown at Cypress Point. His words carried tremendous weight, not merely because of his achievements, but because he grasped the pain of falling short.

READ: How one round of golf with Tiger Woods inspired Scottie Scheffler to become

McIlroy now approaches Bethpage Black for the 2025 Ryder Cup as a seasoned leader confronting extraordinary expectations.

Europe’s most recent victory on American soil occurred in 2012 at Medinah, celebrated as one of golf’s most iconic comebacks.

Hosting the tournament at New York’s brutally demanding Bethpage, with its narrow fairways and infamously raucous crowds, poses a colossal test.

Yet McIlroy isn’t the sole figure radiating self-assurance. This year’s European lineup is more seasoned and experienced than the victorious team in Rome in 2023, according to him.

“I love the team that Luke has assembled. It’s a very strong 12 players and I think it’s the right 12 players,” he expressed on Sky Sports.

“You could certainly make that case [that the players are stronger than in Rome]. You could argue that pretty much every player is more accomplished than two years ago.”

The squad features ten veterans from the Rome triumph, with Rasmus Hojgaard being the only new face. They’re battle-hardened. They’re proven. They’re ready.

And with golfers like Robert MacIntyre, Ludvig Aberg, and Tommy Fleetwood showing exceptional form, Team Europe is brimming with confidence.

On the American side, expect everything they’ve got, and then some. The host nation, led by Keegan Bradley, boasts world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, explosive talents like Xander Schauffele and Bryson DeChambeau, plus a fervent crowd ready to cheer them on.

Keep Reading

CELEB NEWS

Rory McIlroy delivers Masters gesture at Irish Open after venting fru

By Admin September 6, 2025

Rory McIlroy delivers Masters gesture at Irish Open after venting frustrations with officials

Rory McIlroy’s dramatically shifting demeanor at the K Club mirrored the unpredictable weather in Ireland on Thursday. The Masters champion delivered a pointed message to the DP World Tour and PGA Tour after his group was placed on the clock twice during the opening round of the Irish Open.

Then, fewer than two hours later, McIlroy captivated the audience on stage in the Championship Village, where he made his inaugural public appearance donning the green jacket he secured at Augusta to claim Masters champion status for the first time.

READ: Rory McIlroy fumes at Irish Open officials for not using ‘common se

The storm clouds had cleared by that point, even though his conversation with broadcaster Shane O’Donoghue was sporadically disrupted by rainfall. 30 minutes before their question-and-answer session commenced, competition was halted on the course for 36 minutes due to lightning concerns, reports the Irish Mirror.

“Who thought of holding this outside,” McIlroy chuckled, as spectators raised hoods and opened umbrellas.

Yet nobody departed as they heard him analyze his Grand Slam accomplishment, how he pursued his ambition and his aspirations of completing the Grand Slam once more.

Regarding the Irish Open, McIlroy revealed that his mother, Rosie, derived greater joy from his 2016 victory at the K Club than from any of his major championships.

He also confessed that, aside from that single triumph, he has fallen short of expectations in his 20 years competing in the tournament.

An opening 71 indicates he has ground to makeup to position himself for contention when he begins his second round at 1pm. “Get off to a good start tomorrow, hopefully the weather sort of sorts holds and try to climb my way up the leaderboard and have a good weekend,” said McIlroy from the stage.

“But I still feel like I’m right in there. I don’t think anyone is going to really run away over the next two days so if I get out there and shoot something in the mid-60s I’ll have a great chance going into the weekend.”

Nevertheless, leaving the course earlier he had expressed annoyance that he hadn’t extracted more from a solid round. Surrendering two strokes in his final three holes didn’t assist matters and he placed the responsibility on his group being timed for sluggish play.

Yet McIlroy blamed the issue on Tour officials failing to consider the commotion that accompanies the world’s elite players with massive crowds – particularly when they’re competing on familiar territory – and the television crews required to broadcast the featured groups for live coverage.

“In all honesty, I felt a little rushed out there for the last 12 holes,” he told reporters afterwards. “We got put on the clock pretty early, and then the first official went away and then we were put on the clock for the last three holes to try to make time up.

“And it’s hard because you feel a bit rushed. You’re playing some tough holes and we obviously, our group, have to deal with a lot more than any other group on the course. So it’s understandable that we lose time.”

McIlroy suggests that Tour officials should be more understanding. He feels singled out: “I feel like any time I either come back to Europe or I play in some of these like one, two, three in the world type groups, we’re always put on the clock for that reason,” he expressed.

“So I got a little frustrated the last few holes because I feel like it always happens and I don’t think they use sort of common sense in terms of, well, of course we’re going to lose ground because we’re going to have to wait on crowds and wait on the two camera crews that are out there.

“There’s just a lot more going on with our group than any of the other groups on the course, and sometimes I feel like they have to give us a little bit of leeway and use a bit of common sense.”

Interestingly, McIlroy is known for his quick pace in the game, yet he feels unfairly targeted, confessing that he “lost my s—” with a PGA Tour official during the Players Championship earlier this year.

For instance, on the 7th hole, both Lawrence and Reitan ended up in the water. Recalling the incident, McIlroy said: “Yeah, and then obviously they’re taking their time, whatever, and I was in my mind like, ‘oh, do I just go first to try to save a bit of time here?’

“But not really, you can still wait your turn. So it wasn’t really that, I guess it was more I just felt because it’s happened to me quite a lot before in these sort of big groups who want to come back to Europe and play, I felt like I just let it agitate me a little bit.”

Keep Reading

CELEB NEWS

Rory McIlroy says he hasn’t done enough of one thing since

By Admin September 3, 2025

Rory McIlroy says he hasn’t done enough of one thing since winning the Masters

Rory McIlroy is back in Ireland, with this week’s Irish Open at the K Club outside Dublin offering a rare chance for the reigning Masters champion to stop and reflect. On his childhood, on his lone Irish Open victory and, of course, on his career-defining 2025 season.

“I’ve got some great memories of the K Club,” McIlroy said Wednesday of the parkland resort in County Kildare where he won the 2016 Irish Open. “I came here to watch the Ryder Cup in ’06 with my dad and to win my only Irish Open here nine years ago. It’s got a lot of great memories for me, and hopefully I can add to them this week.”

His return to the island of Ireland, only five weeks after the Open Championship was held at Royal Portrush in his native Northern Ireland, seems to have reinvigorated the 36-year-old. McIlroy spent a week on the west coast of Ireland leading up to the Irish Open and was inspired when asked what course he would play for the rest of his life if only one was available. The answer was Royal County Down.

JUST IN: VIDEO: Rory McIlroy looks to Novak Djokovic for inspiration in deali

As busy as a home national open can be for a superstar, the Irish Open is also a marvelous chance to stop and smell the roses. After Thursday’s opening round at the K Club, McIlroy will wear Augusta National’s green jacket for a Q and A with fans while his other three major trophies will be on display in the Championship Village throughout the week.

“It’s absolutely amazing to be able to share that with people,” McIlroy said. “I keep saying—over the years when I dreamed of winning the green jacket, I always said, if I ever did it, I’d never take it off, and I probably haven’t worn it as much as I should have. So any opportunity to put it on, alongside the other major trophies, is very, very cool. I’m excited for that.”

McIlroy’s victory at the Masters in April cemented his status as just the sixth golfer in history to complete the career Grand Slam. He had searched for 10 years for the last piece of the puzzle, at Augusta, after winning the U.S. Open (2011), Open Championship (2014) and two PGA Championship titles (2012, 2014).

After collapsing in tears of joy and relief at Augusta National following his playoff win over Justin Rose, McIlroy experienced a lull in form by his standards as he worked to restore motivation. Also a winner of this year’s Players Championship, he hasn’t won since the Masters and managed a total of four top-10s on the PGA Tour, including a T-7 at the Open at Portrush.

But he also has one eye on this month’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage. The European team hasn’t won a Cup on U.S. soil since McIlroy was part of a comeback victory at Medinah in 2012. If he and his 11 teammates can pull off an away victory in New York, something McIlroy has dubbed one of the greatest accomplishments in golf, he said 2025 would be his career-best year.

That’s, of course acknowledging his 2014 season, when he won two majors, as well as a WGC Bridgestone Invitational, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai all in one year.

“I guess it’s the year that everything came together for me,” McIlroy said when asked to put 2025 into words. “[The Masters] was basically the one piece of the puzzle that was left for me to complete. When I look at my career and my whole picture as a golfer, I’ve done everything I wanted to. Everything after that is a bonus, but you have to reassess your goals.

“The one thing for me—obviously, I’d love to win this week and next week at Wentworth—but the one thing for me this year to reassess my goals, an away Ryder Cup, after everything that’s happened this year … 2025 would be the best year of my career. If I did have a better year in the game, I’d love to see it.”

Keep Reading

CELEB NEWS

VIDEO: Rory McIlroy looks to Novak Djokovic for inspiration in deali

By Admin September 3, 2025

Rory McIlroy looks to Novak Djokovic for inspiration in dealing with Bethpage Black’s hostile Ryder Cup crowd

There’s never been a GOAT in any sport quite as polarizing as Novak Djokovic. Over the course of his 22-year professional career, Djokovic has appeared in 37 grand slam finals, winning 24, the most in men’s tennis history. But the overwhelming popularity of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, whose peaks overlapped with Djokovic’s, meant the Serbian faced hostile crowds nearly every time he took the court. The mental and emotional toll of playing the heel wore on Djokovic at times, but his game thrived on the adversity, as he proved the doubters and haters wrong time and time again.

As an eight-time Ryder Cup veteran, Rory McIlory certainly knows the feeling. On Wednesday ahead of the Amgen Irish Open, Team Europe’s elder statesman was asked how he plans to handle the pro-American crowd at Bethpage Black later this month. Though McIlroy’s own resume speaks for itself—he was instrumental for Team Europe during the last Ryder Cup road win by either side at Medinah in 2012—he tipped his cap to the Joker, revealing that the tennis legend even spoke to the Euros before their victorious romp in Rome two years ago.

What is @RyderCupEurope's secret to dealing with the New York crowd?

Answer: Novak Djokovic… pic.twitter.com/mSNelDZ9hJ

— Jamie Kennedy (@jamierkennedy) September 3, 2025

JUST IN: Tiger Woods’s Ex-Wife Elin Nordegren Emotional After Nearly Missi

“I watched a little bit of Novak Djokovic last night [in the U.S. Open quarterfinals] playing in his match against [American] Taylor Fritz,” McIlroy told reporters. “It was a very pro-American crowd. He’s been the best at handling that sort of — he’s had to deal with it his whole life, whether it’s playing against an American in New York or playing against Roger or Rafa.

He came and spoke to us a little bit about that stuff last time in Rome. So maybe taking a leaf out of his book and channeling that energy the right way, but again, all we can do is control our reaction and our emotions to it. I think the less we play into it, the better it is for us.”

McIlroy’s last sentence seems particularly telling. Some players, such as Tiger Woods and Brooks Koepka, thrive by playing with a chip on their shoulder, but McIlroy and co. aren’t buying into the bulletin-board approach. Instead, they want to put their head down, tune out the noise and execute. Love him or loathe him, Djokovic has been a master of that throughout his career. His desire to win has always been greater than desire to be adored, and that drive has carried him through countless gauntlets over the years. Whether that approach can lead Team Europe to glory at Bethpage Black remains to be seen, but if Djokovic’s deep run in Flushing this year is any indication, the Stars n’ Stripes better watch out.

Keep Reading

CELEB NEWS

‘I didn’t want to go’ LIV star who had Rory McIlroy as

By Admin September 3, 2025

‘I didn’t want to go’ LIV star who had Rory McIlroy as groomsman explains 11th hour Irish Open snub

Former Irish Open winner Sergio Garcia will be absent from the K Club this week as he comes to terms with his omission from the Ryder Cup squad. Garcia, who made the switch to LIV golf in 2023, hasn’t appeared in the Ryder Cup since 2021 but following an impressive campaign on the breakaway circuit, the Spaniard was optimistic he had earned his place in captain Luke Donald’s thinking.

However, the 2017 Masters victor saw Donald stick with virtually the same lineup from 2023, with only Rasmus Hojgaard stepping in for his twin brother Nicolai in the sole alteration to the team that triumphed in Rome two years prior.

READ: Charlie Woods receives emotional support from his mother after his

Speaking to Golf Magic in an interview released this week, 1999 Irish Open winner Garcia revealed he chose not to compete in Kildare this week following his disappointment at missing out on a captain’s selection.

“I felt like I was so looking forward to being a part of that team, and so I felt like mentally, it was kind of tough,” Garcia said, reports the Irish Mirror.

“I didn’t want to go there and not be fully engaged in the tournament and stuff, so I just decided to take a little bit of time off and spend it with the family. Do a couple of things outside of golf and just kind of reboot a little bit, recharge the batteries.”

Garcia and McIlroy were once good friends with McIlroy even taking the role of groomsman at Garcia’s wedding.

Garcia’s move to LIV and McIlroy’s criticism of the Saudi-backed breakaway tour saw that relationship collapse. However, amid talks of a merger, Garcia said of Rory ‘We talked and had a great conversation.”

Regarding the Spaniard’s conversation with Donald breaking the news of his non-selection, Garcia commented: “The call with Luke was fine. Not the call I wanted, obviously, but the conversation was fine.

“Now, the only thing I can do is support the team from home. It’s as simple as that. I’ll be watching and cheering on the European team.”

Although Garcia won’t be teeing off at Bethpage Black next month, two of his LIV colleagues will be flying the flag for Europe. Tyrrell Hatton has secured automatic qualification, while fellow defector Jon Rahm was handed a wildcard pick by Donald.

They’ll be joining forces with the likes of Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry and Justin Rose as Europe aims to clinch victory on American soil for the first time since 2014.

Before that, there’s the small matter of the Amgen Irish Open to contend with. The tournament kicks off on Sunday, with a host of star-studded pairings set to dazzle the K Club.

And who knows, with McIlroy, Lowry, Padraig Harrington and Seamus Power all in contention, we might just see a local champion crowned this week.

Keep Reading

CELEB NEWS

They made me cry again’: Rory McIlroy reveals he was left in tears

By Admin August 25, 2025

Rory McIlroy reveals he was left in tears during Tour Championship PGA Tour season finale – ‘They made me cry again’

GRAND SLAM champions Rory McIlroy has revealed he was left in tears during the PGA Tour season final at East Lake.

The Holywood hotshot had an average week at the Tour Championship, finishing 23rd alongside Maverick McNealy from the 30-strong field.

He scooped McIlroy pocketed $395,000 for his efforts during the lucrative tournament in Georgia.

JUST IN: Tiger Woods’ Ex Elin Nordegren ‘Has Her Reservations’ About

Tommy Fleetwood FINALLY won on the PGA Tour – the weekend’s Tour Championship was the Englishman’s 164th effort stateside with the serial runner-up managing to hold his nerve and finish top the leaderboard.

Speaking after the final event of the tour’s season, McIlroy paid homage to Ryder Cup pal Fleetwood – but did shed light into some other happenings earlier in the week.

World number two McIlroy revealed he had a number of remote duties to complete for Masters chairman Fred Ridley.

The Down ace admitted the demands of being Masters champion are never far away after a reminder at East Lake brought him back to his emotional triumph Augusta.

Speaking after his second round at the Tour Championship, McIlroy revealed he had to fulfil commitments for Augusta National earlier in the week – including slipping on the green jacket once again.

And it brought him to tears, once again.

Speak to the media at East Lake, he said: “I did, I actually did a couple of things for Augusta National this week. I didn’t go there, but there’s a couple of things I had to do.

“I had the green jacket on for a few hours on Wednesday doing something. So it was nice to reminisce. They made me cry again.”

McIlroy, who completed the career Grand Slam at Augusta back in April, has banked an eye-watering $16,992,418 (€15.8m) from just 16 events on tour this season.

He claimed three wins and eight top-10 finishes, underlining his class as one of the game’s most consistent performers.

The Down ace also missed just one cut all season – and his season is far from over with the DP World Tour’s end-of-season run-in – and the Ryder Cup on the horizon.

Keep Reading