LIVE
...

Follow us on

Golf

Get to know Rory McIlroy: The Grand Slam winner who has captured golfing hearts

Follow us on Google Discover

Rory McIlroy is one of golf’s greatest ever players. Here is all you need to know about the sporting icon.

There aren’t many bigger figures in golf than McIlroy, with the Northern Irishman dominating both the European and US game for a number of years now.

Whether it be his Ryder Cup heroics or his iconic Masters triumph, McIlroy’s golfing exploits have transformed him into a worldwide phenomenon.

But despite being recognised as one of sport’s biggest names, there are a lot of things people may not know about the five-time major champion.

2025 PGA Championship - Final Round
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Rory McIlroy age

Rory Daniel McIlroy is currently 36 years old at the time of writing. His date of birth is May 4th, 1989.

Where is Rory McIlroy from?

Rory McIlroy is Northern Irish, having been born in Holywood, County Down – a town on the outskirts of Belfast.

The golfing protégé would remain in his hometown throughout his childhood years, honing his skills at the local Holywood Golf Club.

McIlroy has represented his home nation of Ireland on the international stage, playing alongside countryman Shane Lowry at the 2024 Olympics.

Rory McIlroy height

The Northern Irishman stands at approximately 5ft 9 inches tall (1.75m). Despite not being the tallest, McIlroy has still managed to become one of golf’s longest drivers.

Rory McIlroy wife

McIlroy has been married to Erica Stoll since 2017, having first met the former PGA of America employee back in 2015.

Three years after their marriage, the couple had a daughter together named Poppy Kennedy McIlroy.

When speaking on why he and Erica chose Poppy as a name, Rory said:

“We just really liked it,” said the Masters winner.

Rory McIlroy celebrates with family after winning the 2025 Masters
Photo by Simon Bruty/Augusta National/Getty Images

“I have a cousin of mine, her daughter is named Poppy. We know a few other Poppies. And we just really love the name. We were sort of trying to go through a lot of the flower names, Rose, Iris, all those things. My mom is a Rosie, so we were sort of like, that mightn’t work. We know Alex Noren has an Iris. Shane Lowry has an Iris.

“We wanted to go with something that was pretty unique, maybe more common back where I’m from, but we landed on Poppy and we loved it.”

In May 2024, McIlroy decided to file for divorce in Florida, but would later withdraw the divorce filing a month later.

In an interview with The Guardian, the golfer spoke on the matter:

“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.”

How many majors has Rory McIlroy won?

Rory McIlroy is a five-time major champion, with his first triumph coming back in 2011 at the US Open.

The 36-year-old has since gone on to become a grand slam winner, adding four more majors to his collection. He has won the PGA Championship twice (2012, 2014), whilst winning both the Open Championship (2014) and the Masters (2025) once.

What is Rory McIlroy’s world ranking?

According to the Official World Golf Rankings, McIlroy is currently ranked as the second-best golfer in the world behind three-time major champion Scottie Scheffler.

The Northern-Irishman has spent a staggering total of 736 weeks in the top ten, with his last number one ranking coming back in 2022.

Rory McIlroy net worth

McIlroy’s exploits on the golf course have earned him a sizeable bank balance over the years.

The 2025 Masters winner has amassed over £106m in career earnings on the American stage, whilst also earning over £50m on the DP World Tour.

Sponsorships with Nike, Omega, and TaylorMade have also been very lucrative for McIlroy, with the golfer’s total net worth estimated to be in the region of £225m according to the Sunday Times Rich List.

Rory McIlory stars at the 2025 PGA Championship - Final Round
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Rory McIlroy home

McIlroy’s hefty wallet has allowed him to acquire a stunning mansion in Jupiter, Florida, which is valued in the region of £16m.

The grand slam winner bought the property from fellow golfing icon Ernie Els back in 2012 for £8m.

The home covers a whopping 2.4 acres of land inside the prestigious private members Bear’s Club, which was founded by golfing legend Jack Nicklaus and his wife Barbara in 1999.

There is believed to be a whopping ten bathrooms and nine bedrooms across the property, also hosting a luxury infinity pool, tennis court, home theatre, recording studio and gym.

Is Rory McIlroy on X/Twitter?

Rory McIlroy does have an X account and regularly posts to his 3.2 million followers. His username on the Elon Musk-owned platform is @McIlroyRory