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.
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