LPGA's Charley Hull reveals how Rory McIlroy should deal with scrutiny on personal life after Masters win
Charley Hull wants newly minted Masters champion Rory McIlroy to tune out the noise as he enjoys this long-awaited victory lap.
Speaking recently to US Weekly, the LPGA Tour star reflected on the Northern Irishman's epic win this month at Augusta National, where he ended an 11-year major drought to capture a career Grand Slam, which cast the spotlight even brighter on his love life with wife Erica Stoll.
'At the end of the day, what people say about you, whether it's good or bad, is irrelevant,' said Hull, who shot to a new level of fame in 2024 after lighting up cigarettes at the Women's U.S. Open.
7 Rory McIlroy celebrated his 2025 Masters win with wife Erica Stoll and daughter Poppy.
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7 The couple made headlines in 2024 when McIlroy filed for divorce before reversing course.
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'If you're doing something good, people always have bad things to say about you, and try to bring you down because you're doing well… My famous saying is, 'People's opinions don't pay my bills.' So you've just got to brush it off with a pinch of salt, you know what I mean?'
McIlroy, 35, celebrated his first-ever green jacket win last Sunday with Stoll and their 4-year-old daughter, Poppy, whom he found in the crowd on the 18th after making birdie in a one-hole playoff against England's Justin Rose.
The heartfelt embrace with Stoll came less than a year after the five-time major champion filed for divorce after seven years of marriage in May 2024. McIlroy reversed course a month later.
7 LPGA Tour star Charley Hull believes Rory McIlroy should tune out critics amid chatter about his personal life.
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7 She has gone viral in the past for lighting up cigarettes on the golf course.
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'There have been rumors about my personal life recently, which is unfortunate. Responding to each rumour is a fool's game,' McIlroy said in a statement to The Guardian last June.
'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.'
7 Rory McIlroy kissed wife Erica Stoll during the Par 3 contest ahead of the 2025 Masters.
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7 The family participated in the Par 3 event on April 9, 2025.
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That 'new beginning' was on display this month at Augusta, where Stoll joined McIlroy as part of the family-and-friends-focused Par 3 contest, where Poppy put her putting skills on display.
The couple's daughter took center stage in McIlroy's victory speech on April 13.
'The one thing I would say to my daughter, Poppy, who's sitting over there: never give up on your dreams. Never, ever give up on your dreams. Keep coming back, keep working hard, and if you put your mind to it, you can do anything,' he said.
7 Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll wed in 2017.
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Days after the victory, McIlroy was photographed exiting a private jet with Poppy after touching down in Northern Ireland.
It remains to be seen if Stoll and Poppy will be in attendance next month at Quail Hollow, where McIlroy competes for his second major of the year at the PGA Championship.
He won in 2012 and 2014.
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U.S. Open: Rory McIlroy says it's time to 'get my stuff together'
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Katie Boulter overcomes serving woes to battle into Queen's second round
Katie Boulter is through to the second round - Getty Images /Luke Walker Katie Boulter served nine double faults but still had enough to beat Ajla Tomljanovic 7-6, 1-6, 6-4 to reach the second round at Queen's. A day after enjoying victory as part of the 'Boultercanu' double act, this time around, Boulter had to dig deep on Andy Murray Arena. She powered down five aces and took the first set on a tie-break but her serve was not as reliable in the second half of the contest. Advertisement Momentum shifted constantly in the deciding set, with four consecutive breaks of serve, and at one point, Boulter could be heard yelling 'thank you' after saving a break point. In the end, the British No 1 had just enough to pip her Australian opponent and delight the home crowd, who filed into the 7,700 seater stadium. Elsewhere, Heather Watson secured a fine straight sets win over Yulia Putintseva – prevailing 6-4, 6-3 against a player ranked 137 places above her – with the reward a showdown against Elena Rybakina in the second round. Full report to come... 03:48 PM BST Next up Can Raducanu make it two wins from two for British tennis in singles? Advertisement Click here to follow Will Conroy's game-by-game coverage. 03:41 PM BST Boulter reacts I was battling really hard out there. I know how good Ajla is. She has made many quarter-finals at slams and she is very good on this surface. It is never easy coming straight from the clay to the grass and I'm just happy to get through and feel very grateful for all of you guys [for the support]. It was really difficult. I did feel like I was battling my own mind at times, this surface can do that to you. I didn't feel like I served that great, and I have room to improve, but I'm just happy to be through to the second round. 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She crushes a forehand down the line to hold. 02:33 PM BST Boulter* 7-6, 1-3 Tomljanovic Three errors in a row by Boulter and Tomljanovic has three break points. Boulter saves the first and has a chance to save the second but places her backhand into the tramlines. Advertisement The shot didn't need to be that good. She misjudged it and that's proven costly. Tomljanovic breaks. 02:30 PM BST 'The Pimms jugs have started to make an appearance' As we get further into the afternoon the pimms jugs have started to make an appearance, as have more fans. The Andy Murray Arena is slowly filling up to watch Boulter in action as she manages to survive another double fault. 02:29 PM BST Boulter 7-6, 1-2 Tomljanovic* Stress free service hold from Tomljanovic as she showcases her power. The Australian has not given up on this match. 02:25 PM BST Boulter* 7-6, 1-1 Tomljanovic Deep return by Tomljanovic and Boulter slices a defensive backhand into the net. 15-30. 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Boulter seals the set with a cross court forehand winner, 7-4. 02:08 PM BST TIE-BREAK - Boulter 6-6 Tomljanovic Tomljanovic return wide, 1-0. Tomljanovic ace, 1-1.A jammy drop shot winner from Boulter, 2-1. Boulter double fault, 2-2. Boulter hits back with an ace, 3-2. Boulter return wide, 3-3. 02:04 PM BST Boulter 6-6 Tomljanovic* Must hold service game for the Australian if she wants to force a tie-break. Good second serve by Tomljanovic, Boulter somehow gets the ball into play and Tomljanovic nets a short forehand, 0-30. Class by Tomljanovic to hit a deft volley off a Boulter backhand cross. And her big serve keeps her out of damage. Advertisement Into a tie-break we go!!! 01:57 PM BST Boulter* 6-5 Tomljanovic When Boulter gets her first serve in, she is in tough to bear. Especially on this serve. A couple of double fault put Boulter under threat by 40-30 but she holds again when Tomljanovic strikes a wild forehand long. 01:54 PM BST Boulter 5-5 Tomljanovic* Tomljanovic is well in this match now. Similar game styles, cancelling each other out. The Australian stands firm and prolongs the set. 01:51 PM BST Boulter* 5-4 Tomljanovic Tomljanovic responds again and get break points at 15-40. Boulter saves the first with an ace but Tomljanovic breaks again when Boulter sends a backhand long. Advertisement This has been a topsy-turvy match so far. 01:48 PM BST Boulter 5-3 Tomljanovic* A double fault and backhand into the net gives Boulter a look at breaking. Tomljanovic beats Boulter with a backhand cross court but can't find the sideline. Three break points. 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The crowd is quite subdued, even when Boulter does win a point and the main arena is maybe only a touch over half full. 01:28 PM BST Boulter* 3-2 Tomljanovic First two aces of the match for Boulter as she moves to 40-0. When her serve is flowing and finding its spot, it is very tough to deal with. 01:26 PM BST Boulter 2-2 Tomljanovic* Boulter's first strike tennis is causing some problems from Tomljanovic. The Australian is being rushed by the length of the Briton's shots. Must she manage to come through another game. 01:21 PM BST Boulter* 2-1 Tomljanovic Boulter's boyfriend Alex de Minuar is sitting courtside and showing his support. He applauds as Boulter completes the first hold of serve to love. Advertisement A glimpse of what she is capable of on this surface. 01:18 PM BST Boulter 1-1 Tomljanovic* Back comes Boulter. She earns two immediate break point chance. A deep backhand rushes Tomljanovic and the Aussie's backhand drifts wide. Boulter breaks amd we're back level. 01:14 PM BST First set: Katie Boulter* 0-1 Ajla Tomljanovic (*denotes server) This will be a tough opening test for Boulter against Tomljanovic. This is the third meeting and Tomljanovic leads the head-to-head 2-1. Long lay-offs from injury have hampered her progress but she is capable of making things difficult. Fittingly, the Australian earns a break point here after a deep return forces the Briton into an error. Boulter saves it but gifts Tomljanovic another chance with a backhand into the net. Advertisement Tomljanovic's return is short and Boulter has to scamper forward. She gets there in time but whips her forehand long. Tomljanovic breaks. 12:57 PM BST 'Ominous grey clouds' The rain is holding off so far as the fans await the arrival of Katie Boulter onto centre court – or the recently renamed Andy Murray Arena. It is under half full at the moment, but more might come in throughout the afternoon. However, more ominously are the grey clouds currently sitting overhead, although it is not raining – at least not yet. 12:56 PM BST Sign up to our Telegraph Sport newsletter 12:44 PM BST British No 1 in action Hello and welcome to coverage from Queen's, where a women's tournament is being staged for the first time since 1973. Advertisement Our focus here will be on the British No 1 Katie Boulter, who takes on Australian Ajla Tomljanovic on Andy Murray Arena. A high-quality field has been assembled in south west London including Olympic champion Quinwen Zheng, reigning Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova, current Australian Open champion Madison Keys and former Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina. The inaugural version of the revamped event will boast total prize money of $1.415 million, the highest for a WTA 500 event of its draw size on the Tour, with the singles champion receiving a cool $164,000 and Boulter says the sense of excitement is sweeping through. 'You can feel how excited everyone is,' she said. 'Getting the chance to play here is an absolute privilege so I'm going to enjoy every minute of it. Advertisement 'I've come here quite a bit watching tennis and I've got some good memories of coming and watching Alex (De Minaur) over the last few years. I've always said to myself, I wish there was a women's event here, I wish I had the chance to play on this court. 'You can feel the history, you can feel how incredible it is. I've seen this court packed and obviously it's new this year, which is going to be a really interesting moment for me because I think I'm going to feel a lot of support from the British crowd. I'm going to get a lot of emotions coming out of me at that point.' Grass is a surface where Boulter has secured some of her best results in the past – namely, her back-to-back titles in Nottingham over the last two seasons. In her first event back from the clay, the Briton is hoping she can build some momentum this week to kick-start her favourite time of the season. Advertisement 'Coming into the grass court season it's a completely clean slate,' Boulter explained. 'For the first week on grass there are no expectations. Obviously coming to a WTA 500 at an incredible event it does bring out stress a little bit more and I want to do well here, but I know it's my first week and I'm trying to build towards Wimbledon as well.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
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Confident Steve Smith relishing Lord's reunion
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