Rory McIlroy makes U-turn for Erica Stoll after being forced to sell dream home
Before clinching his first two major titles, McIlroy had his perfect home constructed in 2006 in Holywood, his birthplace in Northern Ireland. The estate, sprawling across 14 acres, featured a gym, tennis court, driving range, and notably, a practice area in his garden's rear.
However, due to the extensive time spent away on the PGA Tour, McIlroy listed the property in 2012 and eventually handed over the keys to ex-TV host Gary McCausland in 2013 for a sum below the £2million he initially sought.
The recent Masters winner upgraded by moving into a luxurious home in Palm Beach, Florida, in 2017, which was worth three times more than his previous home onthe Northern Irish coast. The plush mansion formerly belonged to Ernie Els and was located within the exclusive confines of the Bear's Club golf community, Belfast Live.
Regarding his move, McIlroy commented: "My life is here. I have an American wife. I live in America. Honestly, I enjoy it here more. The way of life is easier. The weather. The convenience."
Yet, the 36-year-old, along with Erica and their four-year-old daughter, have recently relocated to the UK, taking up residence in a grand Wentworth estate in Surrey, England, following last month's US Open. McIlroy had earlier mentioned his wife's preference for a UK move to avoid the intense heat of Florida.
McIlroy reportedly splashed out a cool £9m on a swanky new pad situated conveniently near London and Heathrow Airport, not to mention its proximity to one of the tees at the prestigious Wentworth golf course, the birthplace of the Ryder Cup nearly 100 years ago. Now that the building work is complete, McIlroy and his wife Stoll have settled into their grand estate.
The couple faced some hiccups before moving in, including widely reported strains in their marriage, but after putting divorce talks on hold and patching things up last year, they're now enjoying their new digs.
For the time being, McIlroy plans to split his time between his Florida abode and his new Surrey residence, and it seems that living in the new home has been a breath of fresh air for both him and Stoll, reigniting McIlroy's passion for the game.
At the Renaissance Club in North Berwick, just before the Genesis Scottish Open, McIlroy shared: "We came back a few weeks ago and moved into our new home in Wentworth and have been trying to settle in. It's amazing what two weeks of a bit of detachment can do for you."
He continued, reflecting on the benefits of some downtime: "Sitting there being with your own thoughts for a while. Yeah, it's been nice to have this time to reflect and also to rekindle my excitement and enthusiasm for the rest of the year. Obviously, we have this week in Scotland and then a massive week next week [for the Open] in Portrush."
McIlroy's performance saw a significant drop after he ended an 11-year major dry spell by securing the career Grand Slam with a win at the Masters in April, which significantly eased the pressure on him. However, he only managed to tie for 47th place at the PGA Championship and secured a mere 19th-place finish at the US Open.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Venus Williams, 45, confirms engagement to actor partner, 37, as she rolls back years to win first match in TWO YEARS
VENUS WILLIAMS rolled back the years last night to win for the first time since August 2023. The seven-time Grand Slam champion, 45, surprisingly accepted a wildcard to return in Washington DC this week. Advertisement 7 Venus Williams celebrates her first win since 2023 Credit: Getty 7 Williams, 45, rolled back the years in Washington DC Credit: Alamy 7 Williams defeated Peyton Stearns... 22 years her junior Credit: Getty The WTA Tour veteran looked like she'd never been away as she defeated world No35 Peyton Stearns, 22 years her junior, 6-3 6-4 in front of a raucous night session crowd. In doing so, Williams became the second-oldest woman to ever win a singles match at tour level, only behind Martina Navratilova, who did so at 47-years-old. The American legend won her first tour-level match 31 years ago, aged just 14. Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL After her historic triumph, Williams revealed on court that she is engaged to actor partner Andrea Preti. The tennis icon said: "My fiance is here and he really encouraged me to keep playing. "There were so many times where I just wanted to coast and kind of chill. Do you know how hard it is to play tennis? "You guys don't know how much work goes into this, like it's 9 to 5 except you're running the whole time. Advertisement Most read in Tennis BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 7 Williams is engaged to Andrea Preti Credit: Getty 7 Preti, 37, was in attendance at the match last night Credit: Getty "Lifting weights and just like dying and then you repeat it the next day. So he encouraged me to get through this and it's wonderful to be here. He's never seen me play." Advertisement Williams is also playing the doubles event in DC this week. Tennis star Venus Williams talks about her struggles with chronic illness and Sjogren's syndrome Partnering Hailey Baptiste, Williams beat Speaking about partnering Baptiste, Williams poked fun at her retired sister Serena. She said: "I think from the first point I could see that we were going to be a good team. Advertisement "We just should have started playing earlier, years ago, right? I think Serena was just in the way." Williams and Baptiste will be back in action later today, as they take on No2 seeds Taylor Townsend and Zhang Shuai in the quarter-finals. The veteran will then return again for the singles tomorrow, taking on Poland's Magdalena Frech. Williams has entered the revamped US Open mixed doubles event, which also featured Advertisement The two-time US Open champion could also look for a singles wildcard at Flushing Meadows. 7 Williams is also playing doubles this week alongside Hailey Baptiste Credit: Getty 7 The American received a hero's reception from her home crowd Credit: Getty
Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Inside the five-star luxury hotel where Rory McIlroy stayed during The Open
This is the five-star hotel that Rory McIlroy and his family stayed in during this year's Open Championship at Royal Portrush. McIlroy grew up in Holywood, a town outside of Belfast, which is about an hour away from the famous Dunluce Links. But the five-time major champion decided to stay close to the course for this year's Open Championship - and he could not have gotten any closer than the Dunluce Lodge. Overlooking the fourth fairway of Royal Portrush, Dunluce Lodge was officially opened this year, just in time for the 153rd Open Championship. (Image: Instagram: Dunluce Lodge) (Image: Instagram: Dunluce Lodge) Owned by a US-based investment group, the five-star hotel has 35 suites, a state-of-the-art spa, and its own onsite nine-hole putting green, among its many amenities. Rooms at the plush hotel are typically available €400 to €1,100 per night, depending on room type and demand, and they also offer a private lodge with eight suites, where McIlroy and his family are thought to have stayed. Built at a cost of over €17 million, the new hotel aims to capitalise on a surge in golf tourism in the area following the Open Championship. Posting a photo on social media of McIlroy along with hotel staff, Dunluce Lodge said: "What an unforgettable week. It was an incredible honour to host Rory McIlroy and his family at Dunluce Lodge during The Open. (Image: Instagram: Dunluce Lodge) (Image: Instagram: Dunluce Lodge) "Welcoming one of golf's all-time greats, just steps from Royal Portrush Golf Club was truly special for our entire team. "Thank you, Rory, for choosing to stay with us. We hope it felt like home." McIlroy enjoyed a hero's welcome at Royal Portrush as huge crowds followed him around the course all week. The Holywood man threatened to get his hands on the Claret Jug once again, but he and the rest of the field ultimately had no answer to Scottie Scheffler, who dominated the major championship from start to finish. McIlroy said after the championship: "It's been an awesome week. I've gotten everything I wanted out of this week apart from a Claret Jug, and that's just because one person was just a little bit better than the rest of us. "It's been an amazing week. I feel so thankful and just so lucky that I get to do this, I get to do this in front of this crowd. "Hopefully I'll have one or two Opens left here, if the R&A decide to keep coming back, probably one while I'm still competitive and another one while I'm more grey than I already am. "It's just been incredible to come back here and to play and at least feel like I had a chance today going out there. Just an awesome week."
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Fans turn on ‘people's champ' Bryson DeChambeau as footage emerges of ‘disgusting behaviour' towards Open volunteer
FANS turned on 'people's champ' Bryson DeChambeau after footage emerged of his 'disgusting behaviour' towards an Open volunteer. The American tied for 10th in Northern Ireland as Advertisement 2 Fans turned on Bryson DeChambeau for his behaviour towards an Open volunteer 2 The American did not live up to his billing as the 'people's champ' Supporters were hoping to see DeChambeau battle for first thanks to his popularity as the 'people's champ.' But the two-time US Open winner suffered a backlash after a video showed him acting rudely towards an unpaid volunteer. DeChambeau hit a wayward golf ball into the long grass over The Open weekend. The mis-hit clearly irked him as he trudged his way over to find it. Advertisement READ MORE IN GOLF And the 31-year-old took his irritation out on a volunteer who stood in the grass pointing to where the ball may have landed. DeChambeau strutted over before dismissing the volunteer by saying: 'You can move out of the way.' It certainly didn't go down well with supporters who had previously heralded DeChambeau as a man of the people. He earlier delighted fans with a classy gesture by Advertisement Most read in Golf BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS But DeChambeau's attitude to the volunteer was not greeted as warmly. One supporter said: 'Treating a volunteer poorly will always suck.' 'People's champ' Bryson DeChambeau delights Open fans with classy gesture as they say 'how can you not love this guy?' Another declared: 'Poor volunteer getting that treatment from someone who's supposed to be a professional and role model. Disgusting behaviour.' Advertisement One noted: 'Wow what a jerk.' Another added: 'This is pathetic behaviour.' However, other fans didn't see any issue with DeChambeau's actions. One said: 'The volunteer just stood there like Happy Gilmore on the Waterbury first tee box.' Advertisement Another declared: 'Look at all these haters.'
