Rory McIlroy makes U-turn for Erica Stoll after being forced to sell dream home
Before clinching his first two major titles, McIlroy had his perfect home constructed in 2006 in Holywood, his birthplace in Northern Ireland. The estate, sprawling across 14 acres, featured a gym, tennis court, driving range, and notably, a practice area in his garden's rear.
However, due to the extensive time spent away on the PGA Tour, McIlroy listed the property in 2012 and eventually handed over the keys to ex-TV host Gary McCausland in 2013 for a sum below the £2million he initially sought.
The recent Masters winner upgraded by moving into a luxurious home in Palm Beach, Florida, in 2017, which was worth three times more than his previous home onthe Northern Irish coast. The plush mansion formerly belonged to Ernie Els and was located within the exclusive confines of the Bear's Club golf community, Belfast Live.
Regarding his 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."
Yet, the 36-year-old, along with Erica and their four-year-old daughter, have recently relocated to the UK, taking up residence in a grand Wentworth estate in Surrey, England, following last month's US Open. McIlroy had earlier mentioned his wife's preference for a UK move to avoid the intense heat of Florida.
McIlroy reportedly splashed out a cool £9m on a swanky new pad situated conveniently near London and Heathrow Airport, not to mention its proximity to one of the tees at the prestigious Wentworth golf course, the birthplace of the Ryder Cup nearly 100 years ago. Now that the building work is complete, McIlroy and his wife Stoll have settled into their grand estate.
The couple faced some hiccups before moving in, including widely reported strains in their marriage, but after putting divorce talks on hold and patching things up last year, they're now enjoying their new digs.
For the time being, McIlroy plans to split his time between his Florida abode and his new Surrey residence, and it seems that living in the new home has been a breath of fresh air for both him and Stoll, reigniting McIlroy's passion for the game.
At the Renaissance Club in North Berwick, just before the 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."
He continued, reflecting on the benefits of some downtime: "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 saw a significant drop after he ended an 11-year major dry spell by securing the career Grand Slam with a win at the Masters in April, which significantly eased the pressure on him. However, he only managed to tie for 47th place at the PGA Championship and secured a mere 19th-place finish at the US Open.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
I saw real side of Dog the Bounty Hunter who howled with grief over late daughter – why grandson's death will haunt him
HOWLING towards the sky, Dog the Bounty Hunter's tough guy exterior melted away before my eyes as he recalled the tragic death of his late daughter, Barbara Katy. The unimaginable agony was etched on his face. I was witnessing a rare glimpse of the soft and tender side to Dog that very few people will ever see. Advertisement 12 Sun reporter Jessica says Dog the Bounty Hunter's tough guy exterior melted away before her eyes as he recalled the tragic death of his late daughter, Barbara Katy Credit: John Chapple 12 Jessica spoke to Dog in an exclusive interview in Florida on October 7, 2021 Credit: John Chapple 12 Dog's 13-year-old step-grandson Anthony, centre, has been shot and killed by his father Gregory Zecca, pictured right alongside his mum Francie Credit: Instagram 12 Greg Zecca shot and killed his 13-year-old son Anthony in what is believed to be a tragic accident Credit: Instagram And my heart broke too as the father-of-12 choked back tears, reliving the terrible day Barbara was killed, and sharing the grief no parent should ever have to endure. Advertisement Despite his gruff appearance, what quickly became clear to me that day was that the iconic 72-year-old reality star is actually a tenderhearted family man - a secret he keeps well hidden beneath his hard-as-nails exterior. I saw that nothing is more important to him than the people he loves. That is why I know that Dog, whose real name is Duane Chapman, will be utterly devastated beyond words about the horrific death of his beloved step-grandson in a tragic gun accident last weekend. His entire family was left reeling when Dog's stepson, Gregory Zecca, shot and killed his own son, Anthony, 13, in a tragic accident at their Florida apartment - near the home where I had visited Dog and his wife Francie, who is Gregory's mother, four years ago. At that time America was gripped by the bizarre disappearance of Brian Laundrie, who had returned from a road trip without his girlfriend Advertisement It was a chilling reminder for Dog how his daughter had died at the same age in a devastating car crash in Alaska in 2006 - the day before her dad's wedding to his fifth wife Beth Smith - when the stolen SUV she was travelling in rolled and smashed into a tree. Dog quietly confided to me during our hours' long emotionally charged chat how Barbara's early death inspired him to join the nationwide manhunt for the missing murder suspect. He has snared more than 6,000 criminals in his dangerous but lucrative job as a bondsman - tracking down wanted criminals for cash. Dog is a familiar face on American TV, his public persona is hugely entertaining, and he knows how to put on a great show when the cameras are on him. Heartbreaking videos show Dog the Bounty Hunter dancing with grandson, 13, just months before dad 'shot dead teen' And yet behind the scenes, Dog wept as he told me how fans reached out to him four years ago, urging him to join the Advertisement "They are Dog buddies in the sky," the bounty hunter sobbed. After Gabby's body was discovered in Coincidentally Dog and Francie also happened to be in Florida at the same time, as his new wife had told him she wanted to go back to her home state to "put her feet in the sand, and put her feet in the ocean". Again I watched as Dog's hard man act melted further away as he told me fondly how Francie had reignited his passion for bringing wanted fugitives to justice following his late wife Beth's death. He told me softly: "I had lost my bounty hunting enthusiasm after Beth, and then I looked at Francine and she said 'I'll love you forever,' and I said I'll love you too. Advertisement "I knew in my heart there was someone that was going to pray for me and say, 'Be good, Dog.' "And all of a sudden, I felt like Dog again." Close-knit family 12 Dog with his wife Francie Credit: John Chapple 12 Dog became emotional as he told how Francie had reignited his passion for bringing wanted fugitives to justice following his late wife Beth's death Credit: John Chapple 12 Dog's daughter Barbara died the day before his wedding to Beth in a car accident Credit: Instagram Advertisement 12 Dog was inspired to help in the case of missing Gabby Petito, because she had been around the same age as Barbara when she went missing (pictured: Gabby with fiancé Brian Christopher Laundrie, who killed her) Credit: Netflix The enduring tenderness he has for his sixth wife Francie was clear to me that day, and the couple will be struggling to cope with the agonising tragedy that has now engulfed their close-knit family. By the time I met them Dog had already grown very close to Francie's family in Florida, especially her son Greg and grandson Anthony. Which is why today I can imagine him howling at the sky in sorrow once again. Throughout his life Dog has been blighted by a Advertisement As a child growing up in Denver, Colorado, Dog endured regular beatings with a wooden paddle from his dad - a deeply religious and battle-hardened US army officer. If the idea was to toughen the boy up, it worked. I had lost my bounty hunting enthusiasm after Beth, and then I looked at Francine and she said 'I'll love you forever,' and I said I'll love you too. I knew in my heart there was someone that was going to pray for me and say, 'Be good, Dog.' And all of a sudden, I felt like Dog again Dog the Bounty Hunter By the time he was 13, Dog had dropped out of school and joined a dangerous motorbike gang called the Disciples. He spent years in and out of jail for a string of offences including armed robbery, and fathered a child with his girlfriend Debbie White while they were still in their teens. But she hid her pregnancy from Dog and later took her own life. Advertisement Looking back years later he wrote: "Because of my religious upbringing, I thought my dad was punishing me for being a terrible sinner. "Until very recently, I never understood that none of his abuse was my fault. Just thinking of the abuse I endured can make me cry.' 'I spent the first 23 years of my life on the wrong side of the law. The only thing I knew about the law was a thousand ways to break it,' he added in his 2007 book, You Can Run But You Can't Hide. Murder charge 12 In 1976, Dog was convicted of murder and was sentenced to five years in prison Credit: Getty When he was 19, Dog married first wife LaFonda Honeycutt and the couple had two sons, Duane Lee and Leland. Advertisement But in 1976, Dog was convicted of first degree murder - he was in a car when his friend accidentally shot an alleged drug dealer in a fight over a cannabis deal. His criminal record has caused ongoing problems for Dog. LaFonda left and married his best friend, and as a result of his conviction, he cannot own a gun and uses a Taser for his bounty hunting instead. He was also barred from entering the UK to appear as a Celebrity Big Brother housemate in 2012. Soon after he left jail and started his new career as a bounty hunter, Dog had a short-lived marriage to second wife Anne Tegnell. They had three children - one died shortly after birth and the other two were raised by their mother. Advertisement In 1982, Dog wed wife number three, Lyssa Britain, and had three more children - Barbara, Tucker and Lyssa. But he had an affair with Beth - a blonde bombshell with a 38F chest - after they met at a local police station, where she had been arrested for shoplifting. Shock allegation 12 Dog's daughter Lyssa said she accused him of rape so she could escape his rows with Beth Credit: Instagram His marriage to Beth was stormy from the start, and Lyssa - who was living with her dad - claims she hated their rows so much she made up a horrendous allegation. 'I [falsely] accused my father of raping me when I was 11,' Lyssa admitted later. Advertisement 'It was a horrible life that I never wanted to go back to, living with him and Beth and the fighting and the drugs. 'When I got to my mother's, although she drank, it was much more peaceful. I was willing to do anything to not go back.' Dog was devastated when Beth left and married his childhood best friend, Keith Barmore, in 1991, and had a daughter, Cecily. "He was a thief with a heroin habit," Dog wrote later. "It just about broke my heart when I heard Beth was dating him. 'When I heard they got married, I got physically sick… Friends told me he was abusing her something awful." Advertisement I [falsely] accused my father of raping me when I was 11 Lyssa Dog wed Tawny Marie in 1992 – but he and Beth continued seeing each other behind their new partners' backs. Beth and Dog got back together in 1995 and she became the youngest licensed bondsman in Colorado at 29. They couple had two more children, Bonnie and Garry, and Dog adopted Cecily. In 2004 he landed his own TV show, Dog The Bounty Hunter, and they planned to remarry. But the night before their dream Hawaiian wedding, Dog received the horrific news that Barbara had been killed. Advertisement Incredibly, he went ahead with the wedding as planned, breaking the terrible news to his friends and family at the reception. 12 Dog went ahead with the wedding to Beth and broke the news to friends and family at the reception Credit: Getty 12 Beth suffered from throat cancer before her death Credit: Instagram After Barbara's death, her son went to live with his biological father, Travis Mimms. But in 2011, Dog and Beth took temporary custody after hearing a recording of Travis allegedly physically abusing the nine-year-old. Advertisement Perhaps remembering his own brutal childhood, Dog said: 'To hear the audiotape of my grandson being abused was torture.' Beth lost her battle with throat cancer in 2019 and two years after she died he tied the knot for the sixth time with Francie. An investigation into the horrific accident involving his step-grandson remains ongoing. A spokesperson for Dog and Francie told TMZ: "We are grieving as a family over this incomprehensible tragic accident and would ask for continued prayers as we grieve the loss of our beloved grandson, Anthony."
Extra.ie
4 hours ago
- Extra.ie
1000-lb Sisters star Tammy Slaton shows off huge weight loss
1000-lb Sisters star Tammy Slaton looks unrecognisable in new photos she shared to social media, after the 38-year-old shed 500lbs of weight. The reality TV star underwent bariatric surgery in 2022 which was then followed by a skin removal procedure. Showing off her new figure, Tammy first shared some close-up selfies before showing off her whole figure with social media comments full of praise for the American native. 1000-lb Sisters star Tammy Slaton looks unrecognisable in new photos she shared to social media, after the 38-year-old shed 500lbs of weight. Pic: Tammy Slaton/ TikTok The series of photos was shared alongside a sound which said 'I understood the assignment' which appears to be in relation to Tammy's huge weight loss. Social media users took to the comments full of kinds words and well wishes for Tammy, with one writing: 'Absolutely loving this era of Tammy.' Another said: 'I love your show so much, I have been watching since day 1 and its soo incredible to see how far you have come. Keep slaying queen.' The series of photos was shared alongside a sound which said 'I understood the assignment' which appears to be in relation to Tammy's huge weight loss. Pic: Tammy Slaton/ TikTok A third commented: 'Brought a tear to my eye. It's been honestly so inspiring and amazing to watch your journey. Never been more prouder of a stranger in my life! Well done Tammy.' Tammy's weight loss journey has been documented on the TLC show, with Tammy previously revealing she once weighed more than 700 pounds (317kg). Comparing her 500-lb (226kg) weight loss to her sister Amy, she admitted: 'Everyone is telling me I look smaller than Amy. Meanwhile, Amy has lost around 176 pounds since her own bariatric surgery in 2019. The now-mum-of-two went on a weight-loss journey after deciding she wanted to have children. Pic: Instagram 'That's kind of hard to believe. I can't believe I did that.' Meanwhile, Amy has lost around 176 pounds since her own bariatric surgery in 2019. The now-mum-of-two went on a weight-loss journey after deciding she wanted to have children. She shared two children — Gage and Glenn — with her ex-husband Michael Halterman. The couple filed for divorce in 2023, citing irreconcilable differences according to IMDB. The seventh and final season of 1000-lb Sisters aired last month, with no plans on an eight season due to the completion of Tammy's weight-loss journey.
Irish Independent
4 hours ago
- Irish Independent
‘Great to be reunited' – former taoiseach Enda Kenny and ex British PM David Cameron play golf with Pádraig Harrington
The pair are both in attendance at this week's Senior Open golf tournament, one of the majors on golf's PGA Champions tour, open to golfers aged 50 and over. Cameron said he and Kenny played a round with Irish golfer Pádraig Harrington, a three-time major champion on the main PGA Tour. Harrington is among the field at the tournament, which is being held at Sunningdale Golf Course in the English county of Berkshire. 'Great to be reunited with my good friend Enda Kenny, Irish Taoiseach when I was PM,' Cameron wrote in a post on X, alongside a photo of the pair together on the golf course at Sunningdale. 'From the UK's Sovereign loan to Ireland to The Queen's historic visit, we encouraged many things to bring our two countries together. 'Yesterday, we were playing with the great Pádraig Harrington, who led us to our latest victory!' Cameron served as British prime minister from 2010 to his resignation in 2016, with his term running mostly alongside Kenny's time as taoiseach. The former Fine Gael leader took up the office in 2011 and held the role until 2017. Harrington is among the favourites for the Senior Open, coming off his recent victory at the Senior US Open last month.
