Rory McIlroy goes in search of the famous green jacket at the Masters in Augusta
Rory McIlroy and his wife Erica Stoll (Image: Dave Winter/Icon Sport via Getty Images)
Rory McIlroy could finally get his hands on the famous green jacket if he can seal The Masters victory at Augusta on Sunday (April 13).
The Northern Irishman’s remarkable third round performance has seen him go into the final day with a two-shot lead. McIlroy hit two eagles in the third round to head into Sunday’s finale at 12 under par, with Bryson DeChambeau trailing him by just two shots.
The pair are now set for a dramatic showdown in the final round, with McIlroy hoping to finally secure Masters victory and join an elite group of only five other men who have won the green jacket, as well as the US PGA Championship, the Open Championship and US Open titles.
If he can go all the way, it will be a career-defining moment for the 35-year-old after a few eventful years off the course.
Marriage U-turn
Despite initially deciding to file for divorce last year, McIlroy remains married to his wife Erica Stoll, WalesOnline reports.
The couple, who tied the knot in 2017 and are proud parents to their daughter Poppy, looked set to split when the Northern Irishman applied for divorce the day after clinching a PGA Tour victory last May.
However, a month later, McIlroy made a U-turn on his decision, telling The Guardian: “There have been rumours about my personal life recently, which is unfortunate. Responding to each rumour is a fool’s game.
“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.”
During that rocky patch, whispers spread of McIlroy growing close to CBS Sports presenter Amanda Balionis after the two shared an hug after an interview at the Canadian Open. However, these rumours were never proven.
McIlroy is no stranger to high-profile relationships, having once been engaged to former tennis champion Caroline Wozniacki. They announced their engagement back in December 2013 after three years together, yet the relationship met an abrupt end when McIlroy called it off.
McIlroy reflected on the relationship in an interview with the Irish Independent, saying: “I thought at the time that being with someone that was in a similar position to you was the obvious answer. 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.”
After splitting from Wozniacki, McIlroy was also romantically linked with Meghan Markle, having struck up a friendship with the future Duchess of Sussex. After he nominated her for the viral ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, there were reports of the pair going out for dinner and drinks in New York and Dublin – but they were never more than just good friends.
Body transformation
McIlroy has undergone a significant physical transformation since bursting onto the scene as a teenager, with the golf ace slimming down and becoming more toned.
A back issue at the age of 20 forced him out of play for an extensive period and served as a pivotal ‘wake up call’ for the burgeoning star, who realised he had to get healthier
“The reason that I decided to get healthier and get in the gym was that I had a herniated L4 L5 disc in my back and I had some bone edema in the vertebrae,” McIlroy told reporters in 2020. “The doctor basically said to me if you let that go on any longer that could turn into a stress fracture and that could put you out for a long time.
“It was more out of necessity than anything else so just to get stronger, build up a bit of robustness in my body, honestly make myself a little less flexible and a little stiffer.
“I had so much movement in my hips and the lower part of my spine that there was not enough stability around there to protect the joints and the discs and the vertebrae and it was basically out of necessity to do that and to get stronger and prevent injury,” he expounded. “Since then I haven’t had really any back issues.”
In addition to rigorous training sessions, McIlroy revamped his diet to include more protein and cut down on treats.
McIlroy’s net worth
McIlroy has reaped huge financial rewards from his golfing career, amassing an incredible net worth believed to be around £225 million, as reported by the Sunday Times Rich List.
This staggering sum places him as the 13th wealthiest individual under the age of 40 in the UK, according to the most recent figures, with his wealth spread across a multi-million global property portfolio and a supercar collection valued at about £900,000.
His earnings from golf alone amount to approximately £138 million, and he stands to increase this by $3.6 million (£2.75 million) if he secures victory at Augusta this weekend.
Additionally, McIlroy’s fortune has been significantly bolstered by several high-value endorsement deals, having partnered with leading brands such as Nike, Omega, and TaylorMade throughout his career.