Rory McIlroy with wife Erica Stroll(Image: Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
Rory McIlroy has made a surprising U-turn, relocating back to the UK with his wife Erica Stoll after over a decade of living in Florida since selling his dream home.
Before clinching his first two major titles, McIlroy had his perfect abode constructed in 2006 in Holywood, Northern Ireland. The estate, sprawling across 14 acres, featured a gym, tennis court, driving range, and notably a practice area in his garden.
However, due to extensive travel for the PGA Tour, McIlroy listed the property in 2012 and eventually sold it to ex-TV host Gary McCausland in 2013 for below the £2million asking price.
McIlroy upgraded to a palatial residence in Palm Beach, Florida, in 2017, valued at triple the price of his former Northern Irish coastal home. This opulent dwelling, previously owned by Ernie Els, was nestled within the elite Bear’s Club golf community.
Regarding the 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,” reports Belfast Live.
Yet, the 36-year-old, along with Erica and their four-year-old daughter, have now settled in a grand Wentworth estate in Surrey, England, following last month’s US Open. McIlroy had earlier mentioned Erica’s preference for a UK move to avoid the intense Florida climate.
He reportedly splashed out £9m on the property, which is conveniently located near London and Heathrow Airport, as well as one of the tees on the three courses at the renowned Wentworth golf course, where the Ryder Cup was conceived nearly 100 years ago. Now that the property is complete, McIlroy and Stoll have made the grand estate their home.
There were some hiccups with the move, including the widely reported strains in his marriage, before the couple put a stop to divorce proceedings and reconciled last year.
While McIlroy is anticipated to divide his time between his Florida mansion and Surrey for now, settling into the new property has not only been a massive relief for the pair but has also rekindled McIlroy’s passion.
Speaking at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick ahead of the recent 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.
“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 noticeably declined after he broke an 11-year major dry spell by securing the career Grand Slam with a win at the Masters in April, significantly easing the pressure on him. However, he subsequently tied for 47th place at the PGA Championship and only managed to secure a 19th-place finish at the US Open.
He is currently tied for fourth place on eight under at the Open in Portrush, with America’s Scottie Scheffler leading the pack on 14 under.
