McIlroy has had an impressive season, breaking his 11-year dry spell for a major victory by clinching the Masters in April.
His triumph in Augusta made him just the sixth golfer in history to complete the Grand Slam, but subsequent events like the PGA Championship and the US Open revealed signs of frustration.
The Northern Irish golf star has largely steered clear of media interviews since his Masters win and has acknowledged the need for a ‘mental break’. McIlroy’s wife has expressed her desire to spend more time in the UK and less time in Florida, a wish that has been granted as he passed up the opportunity to compete for a top prize of $1.7 million in Detroit.
JUST IN: As Per Report, Tiger Woods Planning Marriage to Vanessa Trump
Since his Masters victory, McIlroy’s performance has been somewhat erratic, despite earlier wins at Pebble Beach and TPC Sawgrass. He tied for seventh place at the Truist Championship, struggled at the PGA Championship, and didn’t make the cut at the RBC Canadian Open.
A challenging week at Oakmont resulted in McIlroy tying for 19th place at the US Open after barely making the cut, and he tied for sixth at the recent Travelers Championship. After his final round on Sunday, McIlroy confirmed that he would be temporarily leaving the United States with his family.
“I think more so than anything else it’ll just be good for me mentally to take a little bit of a break and get back to my neck of the woods, get back to the UK for a little bit,” McIlroy remarked.
“So I’m excited to do a little bit of that over these next two weeks.”
McIlroy hails from Northern Ireland, while his wife Erica is an upstate New York native. Despite this, Erica has voiced her discomfort with Florida’s heat and is keen on spending more time in the UK.
The couple is in the process of setting up a new home in Surrey, England, making them soon-to-be UK residents. Erica’s preference for cooler climates came to light during the Netflix docuseries Full Swing, where German golfer Martin Kaymer shared details of a conversation he had with her.
“I saw her [Erica] at a Starbucks once, and she said, ‘I really don’t like the sun.’ I said, ‘Your state’s called the Sunshine State [Florida], right?'”Kaymer said.
McIlroy responded: “If it was up to her, she wouldn’t move to England straightaway. But she definitely wants to spend more time there.”
With plans to split their time between Surrey and Florida, McIlroy is eager for a respite in the UK. The golfer has also been open about his recent media frustrations and appeared visibly discontent on the golf course.
“I feel like I live two different lives,” McIlroy expressed. ‘I’m a dad and a husband when I’m away from here, and then I’m who I am when I’m here.
It’s always nice to get away and feel a bit of normality. “.
McIlroy’s upcoming schedule includes two UK tournaments, kicking off with the Genesis Scottish Open on July 10. Following that, he’ll compete in The Open Championship, this year’s last major, starting on July 17.
