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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Rory McIlroy simply does not do soft options | Rory McIlroy simply does not do soft options |
| (4 months later) | |
| In the midst of an emotional scene, there was one moment of levity surrounding Rory McIlroy at Wentworth on Wednesday. That was when it was pointed out to him that at least he is at a golfing venue he loves. The opposite, of course, is true. | In the midst of an emotional scene, there was one moment of levity surrounding Rory McIlroy at Wentworth on Wednesday. That was when it was pointed out to him that at least he is at a golfing venue he loves. The opposite, of course, is true. |
| The Northern Irishman himself raised a laugh, during a press conference in which he regularly looked on the verge of breaking down. Given confirmation had arrived only two hours earlier that his relationship with Caroline Wozniacki is over, it is admirable that the player appeared at all. | |
| McIlroy’s record at the BMW PGA Championship, which starts on Thursday, shows one fifth-place finish, three missed cuts, a tie for 24th and a share of 48th. There were legitimate doubts until recently whether he would return to the European Tour’s flagship event. Suddenly, and for a second year in succession, his time in Surrey will be overshadowed by an off-course situation. | McIlroy’s record at the BMW PGA Championship, which starts on Thursday, shows one fifth-place finish, three missed cuts, a tie for 24th and a share of 48th. There were legitimate doubts until recently whether he would return to the European Tour’s flagship event. Suddenly, and for a second year in succession, his time in Surrey will be overshadowed by an off-course situation. |
| Twelve months ago, ultimately correct speculation was rife that McIlroy was on the verge of splitting from his management company. Woes on the course were, at that point, adding to a messy scenario. Two things can be said with certainty about McIlroy; he has not been short of turbulence in his short career, and he has never been averse to making extremely tough decisions. . The Northern Irishman, quite simply, does not do soft options. | Twelve months ago, ultimately correct speculation was rife that McIlroy was on the verge of splitting from his management company. Woes on the course were, at that point, adding to a messy scenario. Two things can be said with certainty about McIlroy; he has not been short of turbulence in his short career, and he has never been averse to making extremely tough decisions. . The Northern Irishman, quite simply, does not do soft options. |
| By the time the 25-year-old took to the 1st tee for his Wednesday afternoon pro-am appearance, the media circus was in full flow. He has always been a news factory, if seldom on the level that this surprise break-up has moved matters on to. This is the player who has already ditched two management companies, is involved in a high-profile legal dispute with one, and swapped equipment in a £78m deal after becoming the best player in the world. | By the time the 25-year-old took to the 1st tee for his Wednesday afternoon pro-am appearance, the media circus was in full flow. He has always been a news factory, if seldom on the level that this surprise break-up has moved matters on to. This is the player who has already ditched two management companies, is involved in a high-profile legal dispute with one, and swapped equipment in a £78m deal after becoming the best player in the world. |
| He has won two majors in spectacular fashion, collapsed from a winning position at the Masters, slept in during a Ryder Cup day, walked off a course midway through the second round of a high-profile event and now both been engaged to and separated from a tennis star. McIlroy has only just turned 25, leaving you to wonder what else could possibly happen before he reaches 30. | He has won two majors in spectacular fashion, collapsed from a winning position at the Masters, slept in during a Ryder Cup day, walked off a course midway through the second round of a high-profile event and now both been engaged to and separated from a tennis star. McIlroy has only just turned 25, leaving you to wonder what else could possibly happen before he reaches 30. |
| The former world No1 denied he had considered withdrawing from this week’s tournament. “I didn’t think there was any reason to do that,” he said. “There’s no good time to end a relationship, I guess. I made a commitment to be here. It’s the European Tour’s flagship event. I’m very proud to be part of the European Tour. The European Tour has been very good to me over the last number of years and I thought it was my duty to come back and play in this event. Once I gave my word that I would, I wasn’t going to go back on that.” | The former world No1 denied he had considered withdrawing from this week’s tournament. “I didn’t think there was any reason to do that,” he said. “There’s no good time to end a relationship, I guess. I made a commitment to be here. It’s the European Tour’s flagship event. I’m very proud to be part of the European Tour. The European Tour has been very good to me over the last number of years and I thought it was my duty to come back and play in this event. Once I gave my word that I would, I wasn’t going to go back on that.” |
| The odds on McIlroy winning this week lengthened immediately upon announcement of his break-up. Luke Donald, who is also part of the Wentworth field, understands why. “I’m guessing that is very distracting,” Donald said. “We all know how hard this game is when you have a clear mind. I can’t imagine what’s going through his mind now. Any time you have personal issues clouding your mind and you’re trying to play golf, it becomes very difficult. Sometimes being on the golf course can be a little bit of a break away from that but most of the time it’s very hard to separate those two things.” | The odds on McIlroy winning this week lengthened immediately upon announcement of his break-up. Luke Donald, who is also part of the Wentworth field, understands why. “I’m guessing that is very distracting,” Donald said. “We all know how hard this game is when you have a clear mind. I can’t imagine what’s going through his mind now. Any time you have personal issues clouding your mind and you’re trying to play golf, it becomes very difficult. Sometimes being on the golf course can be a little bit of a break away from that but most of the time it’s very hard to separate those two things.” |
| Albeit it contradicts the fact McIlroy is single-minded, there has always been a theory that he felt almost obliged to settle down due to the advice of elder statesman. The legendary Gary Player, for example, previously insisted that McIlroy has “got to find himself a wife that’ll help him, actually almost dedicate her life to him being a success”. Such old-fashioned logic is not in touch with modern reality for a global star such as McIlroy who has always displayed a tendency to live life to the full. | Albeit it contradicts the fact McIlroy is single-minded, there has always been a theory that he felt almost obliged to settle down due to the advice of elder statesman. The legendary Gary Player, for example, previously insisted that McIlroy has “got to find himself a wife that’ll help him, actually almost dedicate her life to him being a success”. Such old-fashioned logic is not in touch with modern reality for a global star such as McIlroy who has always displayed a tendency to live life to the full. |
| In his last eight strokeplay events McIlroy has finished in the top-10 seven times. That at least offers him a glimmer of hope before he tees up alongside Ernie Els and Jamie Donaldson at one o’clock on Thursday. But never mind achievement; it would represent a minor miracle should McIlroy succeed in drowning out epic background noise to the extent that he wins his first tournament of 2014 on Sunday evening. | In his last eight strokeplay events McIlroy has finished in the top-10 seven times. That at least offers him a glimmer of hope before he tees up alongside Ernie Els and Jamie Donaldson at one o’clock on Thursday. But never mind achievement; it would represent a minor miracle should McIlroy succeed in drowning out epic background noise to the extent that he wins his first tournament of 2014 on Sunday evening. |
| Rory McIlroy’s ups and downs | Rory McIlroy’s ups and downs |
| August 2011 | August 2011 |
| Confirms he is in a relationship with Caroline Wozniacki: “Why it’s going so well is that we have so much in common.” | Confirms he is in a relationship with Caroline Wozniacki: “Why it’s going so well is that we have so much in common.” |
| October 2011 | October 2011 |
| Splits from International Sports Management and joins the Dublin-based Horizon group. | Splits from International Sports Management and joins the Dublin-based Horizon group. |
| August 2012 | August 2012 |
| Wins the US PGA Championship, his second major, by a record eight shots at Kiawah Island. Resides at No1 in golf’s world rankings. | Wins the US PGA Championship, his second major, by a record eight shots at Kiawah Island. Resides at No1 in golf’s world rankings. |
| January 2013 | January 2013 |
| Confirms five-year equipment deal with Nike, worth a reported $125m. | Confirms five-year equipment deal with Nike, worth a reported $125m. |
| February 2013 | February 2013 |
| Walks off the course at the Honda Classic, while seven over par through eight holes of his second round. | Walks off the course at the Honda Classic, while seven over par through eight holes of his second round. |
| September 2013 | September 2013 |
| Confirms split from Horizon and sets-up of his own management firm. | Confirms split from Horizon and sets-up of his own management firm. |
| January 2014 | January 2014 |
| Announces engagement to Wozniacki after a new year proposal in Sydney. | Announces engagement to Wozniacki after a new year proposal in Sydney. |
| May 2014 | May 2014 |
| Issues statement confirming engagement and relationship with Wozniacki are off. | Issues statement confirming engagement and relationship with Wozniacki are off. |