Rory McIlroy's new celebrity-filled UK neighbourhood has football legends and oligarchs aplenty
Rory McIlroy's new celebrity-filled UK neighbourhood has football legends and oligarchs aplenty
Rory McIlroy, who recently won the Masters to complete the career grand slam, is set to move his family to the UK after years of living in sunny Florida
Rory McIlroy and his family have lived in sunny Florida for the last few years
(Image: Getty Images )
Following his triumphant Masters victory and the completion of his career grand slam, golfing star Rory McIlroy is set to move his family to London.
The 36-year-old ended a significant major drought last month by clinching the only major championship missing from his impressive record, thus joining an exclusive group of golfers who have achieved the career grand slam.
This marked a momentous occasion for McIlroy, who celebrated by returning to his hometown of Holywood in Northern Ireland to visit his parents.
Before landing in Belfast, however, he, his wife Erica Stoll, and their daughter Poppy made a brief detour to London in their private jet to inspect the Surrey mansion they plan to call home.
For several years, the McIlroys have lived in a luxurious residence in Jupiter, Florida, an area known for its affluent residents including top-tier golfers, actors, and business moguls, according to the Irish Mirror.
Florida's sunny climate undoubtedly suits McIlroy's golfing ambitions, providing year-round opportunities for practice. Yet, the five-time major champion has never hidden his and his wife's desire to relocate to the UK. The couple purchased a property on the Wentworth Golf Club estate a few years ago.
Chelsea legend John Terry is a keen golfer
(Image: (Photo by) )
Having reportedly spent over £8.4million (€10m) on refurbishments to their Surrey home, the McIlroys are now expected to make the move next month. In doing so, they will join a host of famous faces who have chosen to live in this exclusive enclave, reports Belfast Live.
In the elite circles of golf, McIlroy is set to rub shoulders with neighbours such as South African great Ernie Els and ex-Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn. Fellow Irishman Paul McGinley has a residence in nearby Sunningdale, joined by another Ryder Cup leader, Sam Torrance.
Justin Rose, whom McIlroy triumphed over in a playoff to clinch the Masters title, also calls this prestigious area home.
Former Chelsea skipper John Terry, known for his passion for golf, resides near Wentworth, along with ex-England cricketer and fellow golf enthusiast Kevin Pietersen. Previously, former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan - who passed away in March - and Ukrainian footballer Andriy Shevchenko were among the high-profile homeowners here.
Other illustrious figures in McIlroy's neighbourhood will include the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, and Russian businessman Petr Aven. Aidan Heavey, who established Tullow Oil, is another notable resident on the estate. The allure of Wentworth, with its proximity to London and major airports, has drawn a diverse crowd.
The Sultan of Brunei reportedly has a net worth of £37billion ($50bn)
(Image: AFP via Getty Images )
Music legends like Elton John and Cliff Richard have at times owned properties in the vicinity. The estate has also been a dwelling place for former Chilean leader Augusto Pinochet, Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, and television host Michael Parkinson.
However, living in such exclusive locales isn't to everyone's taste, as Gary Numan shared with Uncut music magazine in 2019: "I had a big neo-Georgian house on Wentworth golf course, but I was convinced it was haunted.
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"Some weird s*** had been going on – I'd come home and the house was in darkness when I was convinced I'd left the lights on. So one day, I made a point of turning on every single light in the house. I got back from the studio and – f*** me – the house was in total darkness."
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