Rory McIlroy has been the talk of the week leading into the PGA Championship, but not for what he’s done on the links. Instead, an off-course distraction has taken over golf headlines as he looks to land his first major win in a decade.
The golfer quietly filed for divorce on Monday, just days before he was set to tee off at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville.
That news sparked an onslaught of reaction that consumed the pre-tournament lead-up.McIlroy has been married to his wife, Erica, for seven years after the two met during the 2012 Ryder Cup. In 2017, they tied the knot before having a child together a few years later.
Early this week, however, divorce paperwork was filed in Florida signaling the beginning of the end of the relationship.
The news of that filing quickly went viral online as fans and media speculated on how it could affect his play. PGA Championship competitor Brooks Koepka threw a subtle jab McIlroy’s way, which landed the reply of another of the Irishman’s scorned lovers.
Others looked back at his performance prior to the relationship, where he put together maybe the best season of his career. Heck, even the PGA Tour’s official social media team dropped a “Last time Rory was single” highlight reel to relive his incredible 2014 campaign.
Could the split actually be beneficial to his play?
The distraction certainly didn’t affect his most recent outing as he won at Quail Hollow, and he’s now gotten off to a hot start at Valhalla as he eyes that major victory.
HOW DID THIS NOT GO IN!?
Rory McIlroy is pin hunting! #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/At8fOqxTFS
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship)
Rory McIlroy set a Tour record at the PGA Championship.
He wrapped up his first round at -5, and in a good spot on the leaderboard. It represented the ninth time in his career that he’d shot 66 or better on the opening day of a major.
His 9th opening-round of 66 or better in a major, the most all-time.@McIlroyRory is T3 after a 5-under 66. pic.twitter.com/sBAKPtnDgQ
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR)
Interestingly enough, the last time Rory McIlroy landed a major victory was at this very course and tournament in 2014 – again, the last time he was single.
Can he make more magic at Valhalla during the 2024 PGA Championship? He’s off to a good start!
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