Rory McIlroy has enjoyed some time off with his three-year-old daughter Poppy after the news broke of his split from his wife Erica Stoll.
The 35-year-old golfer said he also enjoyed a trip to Italy for his best friend’s wedding after he called time on his own seven-year marriage.
Rory said he had ‘needed’ a break in the aftermath of filing for divorce from Erica and spending time with Poppy was ‘awesome’.
Detailing what he’d been up to during some time off during golf tournaments, Rory told the BBC: ‘I went to one of my best friend’s weddings in Italy for four days, which was a lot of fun, good to see a lot of people from home I haven’t seen in a long time.
‘It was actually a really good trip, I needed it. Then I had a lovely break, I had a great weekend at home. Spent time with my family and with Poppy and, yeah, it was awesome.’
This comes following the death of fellow golfer Grayson Murray, with Rory saying the sad news puts your own problems in ‘perspective’ and serves as a reminder that sports stars are just as ‘vulnerable’ and ‘fragile’ as everyone else.
Rory said: ‘It’s a cliche but it puts everything in perspective… We’re vulnerable and we’re fragile, and I think if there’s a lesson for anyone out there it’s just to be kinder to each other.’
The Northern Irish golf star reportedly ended his marriage to wife Erica in a rather impersonal manner, by using a third party to serve her with divorce papers.
It’s claimed they were presented to her by a private investigator at 10.30am on May 9 in the family home, according to a report by The Mirror.
It comes after Rory and Erica were practically living separate lives for the past two years, according to inside sources, with Erica becoming ‘lonely’ in the marriage and reaching ‘breaking point.’
