PhOtOs-McIlroy Dumps Bride -Just Before Wedding
 

Golfer Rory McIlroy Breaks off his Engagement to Tennis Player Caroline Wozniacki
- Just Days after They sent out Invitations to Sports Wedding of the Year 'because He is Not Ready for Marriage'

• The former world number one golfer confirmed relationship had ended
  
• Realised he was not ready for marriage just days after invitations were sent
• Northern Irishman blamed himself for the break-up with Danish tennis star
  
• In a statement he said: 'I wish Caroline all the happiness she deserves'
  

By Daily Mail UK, 21 May 2014


Golfer Rory McIlroy looked visibly upset at a press conference ahead of his latest tournament this morning after announcing he had broken off his five-month engagement to tennis player Caroline Wozniacki.
The major winner and former world number one said the high-profile split was 'mutual and amicable' after confirming the relationship had ended because he realised he was not ready for marriage.
'There is no right way to end a relationship that has been so important to two people,' he said today.

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Golfer Rory McIlroy, 25, looked upset at a press conference this morning following
the announcement he had broken off his engagement to tennis star Caroline Wozniacki

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In a brief statement, the golfer said he was making the announcement publicly after talking to Wozniacki.
The pair were pictured talking in Sloane Square, London, last week (pictured)

The pair, who got engaged on New Year's Day after more than two years together, split just days after sending out their wedding invitations.

In a brief statement issued through his Dublin-based communications consultants, McIlroy, 25, said he was making the announcement publicly after talking to Wozniacki.

'The problem is mine,' he said.
'The wedding invitations issued at the weekend made me realise that I wasn't ready for all that marriage entails.
'I wish Caroline all the happiness she deserves and thank her for the great times we've had.'

Following the announcement, the golfer looked distracted as he attended a press conference at the Wentworth course in Surrey ahead of his latest tournament.

He said he wanted to get his head into golf but admitted it would be difficult on the back of a very public break-up.

'Obviously (it's) quite a difficult time for Caroline and myself, and I think the statement really said it all this morning,' he said.
'It was mutual and amicable and we both thought it was the best for us, the best for both of us. Time to move on and I think I've said all that I need to say.'

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McIlroy, 25, looked visibly upset today after confirming the engagement was off because he realised he wasn't ready for marriage


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Last year, McIlroy was warned by Britain's greatest-ever golfer Nick Faldo to 'concentrate on golf' after a dramatic slump in form,
but McIlroy confirmed he had called off the relationship because he wasn't ready to get married

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Sad


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Golf is more important


Tennis star Caroline Wozniacki, 23, and golfer Rory McIlroy, 25, were together for over two years

Despite being downbeat, he was rather candid when taking questions ahead of the tournament at Wentworth, where he is fourth favourite to lift the title on a course that does not suit him.
He chanced a rueful but wide smile when asked about spending the weekend on a course that he 'loves'.

'Look, I think I'm no different than anyone else. Everyone has been through break-ups and it's obviously very, very difficult,' he said.
'But look, I'm here to try and concentrate on this week and answer questions about golf and that's what I'm going to do.'


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McIlroy, 25, who is worth an estimated £28million, proposed to the 23-year-old tennis star in Sydney, Australia, on New Year's Day


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The pair confirmed they were engaged on New Year's Day by posting a series of pictures on Twitter featuring the diamond sparkler

McIlroy, who is worth an estimated £28million, proposed to the 23-year-old tennis star in Sydney, Australia, on New Year's Day.

As recently as Sunday, McIlroy's Twitter feed suggested there were no signs of trouble in the relationship after he posted a picture from Nobu restaurant in Monte Carlo where the pair had dinner

Sources close to the pair claimed the Irish golfer broke it off with Wozniacki in April last year - days after she posted a picture on Twitter showing him asleep and open-mouthed with his glasses on.

Friends at the time said there was no way back and the tennis ace was described as being 'absolutely devastated'.

But she was then spotted among the gallery watching McIlroy at the Dubai World Championships in November. It was the first time the Danish tennis star had been seen at a golf event since she donned caddies’ overalls for the par three tournament at the Masters back in April.

Earlier in 2013, McIlroy was warned by Britain's greatest-ever golfer Nick Faldo to 'concentrate on golf' after a dramatic slump in form.

Last December the pair were forced to deny rumours they were engaged after Wozniacki was spotted wearing a huge diamond ring on her wedding ring finger.


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Following the engagement, Wozniacki sported a large diamond ring, said to be worth about £98,000,
and all was seemingly well - although last month when quizzed about a date for their big day, they said they were ‘working on it’.

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MciIroy and Wozniacki, pictured sharing a buggy at the Singapore open in 2012, have split despite sending out wedding invitations over the weekend

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In a statement, McIlroy, pictured with Wozniacki in 2012, said: 'The wedding invitations issued at the weekend made me realise that I wasn't ready for all that marriage entails'


However, as recently as Sunday, McIlroy's Twitter feed suggested there were no signs of trouble in the relationship after he posted a picture from Nobu restaurant in Monte Carlo where the pair had dinner.
A member at McIlroy's home club, Holywood Golf Club in the hills overlooking Belfast, said McIlroy was last back in the town at Christmas and played football with some of his local friends.

Derek Reade, a former club president, said people's thoughts would be with the now-estranged couple.

'It is obviously a very disappointing event. Any sort of break-up of this kind is very disturbing,' he said.

Mr Reade recalled whisperings about the couple's relationship in the past when reports circulated in the media last year that they had broken up.
'You have to wonder about some of these things. The only thing people here heard about was the last time they were supposed to have broken up,' he said.

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The pair looked happy and loved-up during the par-three competition at The Masters last year


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Wozniacki with McIlroy at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai in November last year


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Wozniacki celebrated with the golfer when he won the DP World Tour golf Championship in Dubai on November 25, 2012

Wozniacki, who was born in Denmark to Polish parents, reached world number one in her own sport in 2012 but has yet to win a Grand Slam.
The tennis ace now sits at number 14 in the world rankings with the French Open at Roland Garros coming up next week.

McIlroy is currently involved in a lengthy legal battle with his former management company in the courts in Dublin over commissions from his lucrative sports sponsorship and endorsement contracts.

The golf star, who has a £12m a year contract with Nike, claims he has paid more than £4m based on unreasonable fee rates much higher than the norm in the sports agency industry.